Black Horse Fly vs Lesser House Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black Horse Fly | Lesser House Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Tabanus atratus | Fannia canicularis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Tabanidae | Fanniidae |
| Size | 20-28 mm | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Indoors |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Scavengers |
| Regions | Eastern United States from the Great Plains to the Atlantic coast | Worldwide |
| 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.
Lesser House Fly
A small greyish fly often seen flying in circles beneath ceiling lights indoors. It breeds in decaying organic matter and is a secondary forensic indicator.
Did You Know?
Males are well known for hovering in a fixed triangular flight pattern beneath indoor light fixtures.