Christmas Island Blue Crab Fly vs Coffin Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Christmas Island Blue Crab Fly Coffin Fly
Scientific Name Paramyia nitens Conicera tibialis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Phoridae Phoridae
Size 2-4 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Forests Underground
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Christmas Island Europe, North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Christmas Island Blue Crab Fly

A tiny fly found on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean associated with red crab migrations. It lays eggs on injured or dead crabs.

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Did You Know?

During the annual red crab migration, these flies congregate in vast swarms along forest trails.

Coffin Fly

A tiny humpbacked fly capable of burrowing through soil to reach buried remains. It is of forensic importance as it can colonize remains inaccessible to other insects.

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Did You Know?

It can burrow through over a meter of soil to reach a food source below ground.