Blue Bottle Fly vs Greenhead Horse Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blue Bottle Fly Greenhead Horse Fly
Scientific Name Calliphora vomitoria Tabanus nigrovittatus
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Calliphoridae Tabanidae
Size 10-14 mm 12-15 mm
Habitat Woodlands Beaches & Coastal
Diet Carrion Feeders Blood Feeders
Regions Europe, North America, Asia Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Blue Bottle Fly

A large, metallic blue fly with a loud buzzing flight and prominent bristly body. It is one of the first insects to arrive on carrion and is extensively used in forensic entomology.

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Did You Know?

Forensic scientists can determine time of death by analyzing the developmental stages of blow fly larvae found on human remains with accuracy down to hours.

Greenhead Horse Fly

A coastal salt marsh horse fly with bright green eyes. It is the most abundant biting fly along the Atlantic coast of North America.

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Did You Know?

Greenheads are so abundant in some coastal areas that they limit beach recreation in summer.