Comstock's Net-Winged Midge vs Tropical Bat Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Comstock's Net-Winged Midge Tropical Bat Fly
Scientific Name Agathon comstocki Cyclopodia horsfieldi
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Blephariceridae Nycteribiidae
Size 5-8 mm 3-5 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Caves
Diet Omnivores Parasites
Regions North America South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Comstock's Net-Winged Midge

A western North American net-winged midge found on waterfall-splashed rocks. Larvae have a unique caterpillar-like body with sucker discs.

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Did You Know?

Larvae inch forward using alternating suction attachment, moving like a caterpillar across wet rock faces.

Tropical Bat Fly

A bizarre wingless bat fly with extremely long spider-like legs and a flattened body. It is a specialist parasite of fruit bats in tropical Asia.

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Did You Know?

Its legs are so long relative to its body that it can crawl rapidly through bat fur while maintaining grip during flight.