Common Bat Fly vs Black Soldier Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Bat Fly | Black Soldier Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Basilia nana | Hermetia illucens |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Nycteribiidae | Stratiomyidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 15-20 mm |
| Habitat | Caves | Underground |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | North America, South America, Central America, Asia, Oceania |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Bat Fly
A tiny, completely wingless spider-like fly that parasitizes bats. Its body is so highly modified for ectoparasitism that it bears almost no resemblance to a typical fly.
Did You Know?
It has evolved to be so specialized that its head folds back over the thorax, and it walks like a spider through bat fur.
Black Soldier Fly
A large, wasp-like fly with a shiny black body and translucent areas on the abdomen. Its larvae are extraordinarily efficient at converting organic waste into protein and fat.
Did You Know?
Black soldier fly larvae can reduce food waste mass by 95 percent in days, and the resulting protein-rich larvae are increasingly farmed as sustainable animal feed.