Common House Fly vs American Rubyspot

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Common House Fly American Rubyspot
Scientific Name Musca domestica Hetaerina americana
Order Diptera Odonata
Family Muscidae Calopterygidae
Size 6-9 mm 40-50 mm
Habitat Underground Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Worldwide North America, Central America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Common House Fly

One of the most widely distributed insects on Earth. Can taste with their feet, which have chemoreceptors. Capable of rapid reproduction with complete lifecycle in 7-10 days.

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Did You Know?

House flies taste with their feet — they have over 100 taste receptors on each foot and can detect sugar just by landing on a surface.

American Rubyspot

A graceful damselfly with brilliant ruby-red patches at the base of the wings in males. Its metallic red-bronze body gleams in sunlight along stream banks.

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Did You Know?

Males aggressively defend stream territories, clashing with rivals by displaying their ruby wing patches.