Dark Giant Horse Fly vs Golden-belted Tachinid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dark Giant Horse Fly Golden-belted Tachinid
Scientific Name Tabanus sudeticus Ectophasia crassipennis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Tabanidae Tachinidae
Size 22-28 mm 6-10 mm
Habitat Farmland Underground
Diet Blood Feeders Parasites
Regions Northern Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dark Giant Horse Fly

The largest horse fly in the British Isles, dark brown with a robust build. Females deliver an extremely painful bite to livestock and humans.

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Did You Know?

Its bite is considered the most painful of any European fly species.

Golden-belted Tachinid

A colorful parasitic fly with golden-yellow markings and dark wing patches. Parasitizes shieldbugs and stink bugs. Often seen on umbellifer flowers.

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Did You Know?

The conspicuous wing markings may be involved in mating displays among the otherwise cryptic tachinid flies.