Bristly Tachinid vs Lutzomyia Sand Fly (Whitmani)
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Bristly Tachinid | Lutzomyia Sand Fly (Whitmani) |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Epalpus signifer | Lutzomyia whitmani |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Tachinidae | Psychodidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Forests |
| Diet | Parasites | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Brazil, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Bristly Tachinid
A bristly gray parasitic fly found across North America. It parasitizes a wide range of caterpillars including armyworms and cutworms.
Did You Know?
Females scatter tiny eggs on foliage, which are then accidentally swallowed by feeding caterpillars.
Lutzomyia Sand Fly (Whitmani)
A small sandfly that is the major vector of Leishmania braziliensis, which causes mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil. It bites at the forest edge and in peridomestic environments. The disease it transmits can cause devastating destruction of nasal and oral mucosa.
Did You Know?
Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis transmitted by this fly can destroy the nose and palate, and was depicted in pre-Columbian pottery from Peru.