Coffin Fly vs Yellow-winged Darter

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Coffin Fly Yellow-winged Darter
Scientific Name Conicera tibialis Sympetrum flaveolum
Order Diptera Odonata
Family Phoridae Libellulidae
Size 2-3 mm 32-37 mm
Habitat Underground Wetlands
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, North America Europe, 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.

Yellow-winged Darter

A medium-sized darter with extensive saffron-yellow patches at the base of all four wings. Males are red-bodied while females are yellowish.

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Did You Know?

It breeds in temporary flood meadows and is a strong migrant that appears in large numbers in good years.