Common Mime vs Sheep Nose Bot Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Common Mime Sheep Nose Bot Fly
Scientific Name Papilio clytia Oestrus ovis
Order Lepidoptera Diptera
Family Papilionidae Oestridae
Size 80-100 mm wingspan 10-12 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Nectar Feeders Parasites
Regions Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos) Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Common Mime

A polymorphic swallowtail butterfly that exists in two main forms: one mimicking the toxic Common Crow and the other mimicking the Blue Tiger. Both forms lack the typical swallowtail tails.

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Did You Know?

The two distinct forms are controlled by a single genetic switch, making it one of the best examples of genetic polymorphism in butterflies.

Sheep Nose Bot Fly

A parasitic fly that shoots live larvae into the nostrils of sheep and goats while in flight. Larvae develop inside the nasal sinuses, causing distress to livestock.

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Did You Know?

This fly does not lay eggs — it shoots live first-instar larvae directly into the nostrils of sheep while flying past at speed, a method called larviposition.