Black Horse Fly vs Hairy Maggot Blow Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black Horse Fly | Hairy Maggot Blow Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Tabanus atratus | Chrysomya rufifacies |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Tabanidae | Calliphoridae |
| Size | 20-28 mm | 9-12 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Forests |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Eastern United States from the Great Plains to the Atlantic coast | Australia, Asia, Americas |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Black Horse Fly
A very large entirely black horse fly and one of the biggest flies in North America. Females are persistent blood-feeders that can harass livestock and humans during summer months.
Did You Know?
Its larvae are aquatic predators that live in muddy pond bottoms and can take up to two years to complete development.
Hairy Maggot Blow Fly
A blow fly whose larvae have distinctive fleshy projections giving them a hairy appearance. Its predatory larvae feed on other maggot species on carrion.
Did You Know?
Its larvae are facultatively predatory and will cannibalize other maggot species sharing the same carcass.