Dark-edged Bee-fly vs Soldier Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dark-edged Bee-fly Soldier Fly
Scientific Name Bombylius major discolor Odontomyia tigrina
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Bombyliidae Stratiomyidae
Size 8-12mm 8-12 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Ponds & Lakes
Diet Nectar Feeders Pollen Feeders
Regions Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dark-edged Bee-fly

A subspecies of the bee-fly with slightly different wing patterning found in eastern populations.

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Did You Know?

Hovers at spring flowers with its long rigid proboscis extended, looking remarkably like a furry hummingbird.

Soldier Fly

A brightly colored soldier fly with aquatic larvae that filter-feed in ponds.

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Did You Know?

Larvae float at the surface and breathe through a rosette of hydrophobic tail hairs.