Bot Fly vs Giant Wood Hoverfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Bot Fly | Giant Wood Hoverfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dermatobia hominis | Temnostoma vespiforme |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Oestridae | Syrphidae |
| Size | 12-18 mm | 14-18 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Parasites | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Central America, South America | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Bot Fly
Parasitic fly whose larvae develop under the skin of mammals including humans. Female captures a mosquito and glues eggs to it — when the mosquito bites, body heat triggers egg hatching.
Did You Know?
The human bot fly is so devious it hijacks mosquitoes — it catches them, glues eggs to their bodies, then the eggs hatch when the mosquito lands on warm skin.
Giant Wood Hoverfly
A large, wasp-mimicking hoverfly with yellow and black banding and a slender waist. Its larvae develop in decaying wood of fallen trees in old-growth forests.
Did You Know?
It is considered an indicator species for ancient woodland due to its dependence on large volumes of decaying timber.