Blue Mountains Glowworm vs Deer Bot Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blue Mountains Glowworm Deer Bot Fly
Scientific Name Arachnocampa richardsae Cephenemyia stimulator
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Mycetophilidae Oestridae
Size 3-5 mm 12-15 mm
Habitat Forests Woodlands
Diet Fungus Feeders Parasites
Regions Australia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Blue Mountains Glowworm

An Australian bioluminescent fungus gnat closely related to the New Zealand glowworm. Its larvae hang from cave ceilings and rainforest overhangs, emitting a blue-green glow.

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Did You Know?

Different Arachnocampa species emit slightly different colors of light, from blue-green to green-yellow.

Deer Bot Fly

A parasitic fly that deposits larvae in the nostrils of roe deer. The larvae develop in the pharyngeal region before being sneezed out.

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Did You Know?

Once erroneously claimed to fly at over 1,300 km/h, making it a famous example of scientific exaggeration.