Cuckoo Bumblebee vs Myiasis-Causing Flesh Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cuckoo Bumblebee | Myiasis-Causing Flesh Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombus vestalis | Wohlfahrtia vigil |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Apidae | Sarcophagidae |
| Size | 15-22mm | 10-14 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Farmland |
| Diet | Parasites | Parasites |
| Regions | Europe | North America, especially northern United States and Canada |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cuckoo Bumblebee
A social parasite that invades buff-tailed bumblebee nests, kills the queen and enslaves the workers.
Did You Know?
Enters the nest of its host species, fights and kills the queen, then forces the workers to raise her own offspring.
Myiasis-Causing Flesh Fly
A large flesh fly found in North America that causes obligate dermal myiasis in small animals including rabbits, mink, and fox kits on fur farms. Females deposit active larvae on the unbroken skin of young animals, and larvae burrow into subcutaneous tissue. Human cases are rare but documented in infants.
Did You Know?
It preferentially attacks the young of furbearing animals, causing significant losses on mink and fox fur farms in North America.