Blandford Fly vs Apple Maggot Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blandford Fly | Apple Maggot Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Simulium posticatum | Rhagoletis pomonella |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Simuliidae | Tephritidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Orchards |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Blandford Fly
A notorious black fly that causes severe allergic reactions with its bite around the Blandford area of Dorset. Females need blood meals for egg development. Larvae develop in clean rivers.
Did You Know?
Named after Blandford Forum in Dorset where outbreaks of painful bites affect thousands of people each summer.
Apple Maggot Fly
A fruit fly pest whose larvae tunnel through apple flesh causing brown trails. It is a textbook example of sympatric speciation by host plant shifting.
Did You Know?
It shifted from native hawthorn to introduced apple trees in under 200 years, creating genetically distinct races.