Big-headed Fly vs Indian Sand Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Big-headed Fly | Indian Sand Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pipunculus campestris | Phlebotomus argentipes |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Pipunculidae | Psychodidae |
| Size | 3-6 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Underground |
| Diet | Herbivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, particularly the Gangetic Plain) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Big-headed Fly
A small fly with an enormously enlarged, almost entirely eye-covered spherical head. It hovers in vegetation searching for leafhopper hosts in which to parasitize.
Did You Know?
Its enormous eyes give it near-360-degree vision, allowing it to spot leafhoppers from any angle while hovering.
Indian Sand Fly
A tiny, hairy fly with a distinctive humpbacked appearance and large, upturned wings held erect at rest. It is the primary vector of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in the Indian subcontinent.
Did You Know?
Indoor residual spraying with DDT once nearly eliminated kala-azar from India, but the disease resurged after spraying campaigns ended.