Congo Floor Maggot Fly vs Velvet Shore Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Congo Floor Maggot Fly | Velvet Shore Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Auchmeromyia senegalensis | Heterothops praevius |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Calliphoridae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 10-14 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Detritivores |
| Regions | Sub-Saharan Africa | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Congo Floor Maggot Fly
A yellowish-brown blow fly whose larvae are unique among Diptera in being temporary ectoparasites that feed on sleeping humans. Larvae live in the dirt floors of huts and emerge at night to feed on the blood of sleeping people, then retreat into the floor. Adults do not bite.
Did You Know?
It is the only known fly whose larvae feed on human blood like a bedbug, making it a unique case of larval hematophagy.
Velvet Shore Rove Beetle
A small, dark rove beetle found in leaf litter and decaying organic matter in European forests. It is a swift predator of mites and springtails.
Did You Know?
Despite its small size it is one of the most abundant predatory beetles in European forest soils.