Coffin Fly vs Notch-horned Cleg

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Coffin Fly Notch-horned Cleg
Scientific Name Conicera tibialis Haematopota pluvialis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Phoridae Tabanidae
Size 2-3 mm 8-12 mm
Habitat Underground Hedgerows
Diet Omnivores Blood Feeders
Regions Europe, North America Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

Notch-horned Cleg

A grey horse fly with mottled wings that approaches silently before biting. It is one of the most common biting flies in Europe.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most horse flies, the cleg approaches completely silently, landing and biting before being noticed.