Bumblebee-mimicking Tachinid vs Glacier Black Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Bumblebee-mimicking Tachinid Glacier Black Fly
Scientific Name Jurinia frontalis Prosimulium alpestre
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Tachinidae Simuliidae
Size 14-18 mm 2-4 mm body length
Habitat Mountains Mountains
Diet Wood Feeders Blood Feeders
Regions Europe, Asia Alps, Northern Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Bumblebee-mimicking Tachinid

A large, furry tachinid fly that closely mimics a bumblebee with its dense covering of orange and black hairs. It is one of the hairiest of all tachinid flies.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most tachinids that parasitize caterpillars, this species targets wood-boring beetle larvae.

Glacier Black Fly

A small black fly whose larvae develop in fast-flowing alpine streams. Adults are among the earliest insects active after snowmelt.

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Did You Know?

Larvae anchor themselves to rocks in torrential currents using silk pads and tiny hooks.