Coffin Fly vs Pubic Louse

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Coffin Fly Pubic Louse
Scientific Name Conicera tibialis Pthirus pubis
Order Diptera Phthiraptera
Family Phoridae Pthiridae
Size 2-3 mm 1.5-2 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Omnivores Blood Feeders
Regions Europe, North America Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Oceania
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.

Pubic Louse

A broad, crab-shaped louse that infests coarse body hair, primarily in the pubic region. It is transmitted through intimate contact.

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Did You Know?

Pubic lice are more closely related to gorilla lice than to human head lice, suggesting an ancient host-switching event between primate species.