Deer Ked vs High-altitude Hover Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Deer Ked | High-altitude Hover Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lipoptena cervi | Platycheirus alpinus |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Hippoboscidae | Syrphidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 6-9 mm body length |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Meadows |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, introduced to North America | Northern Europe, Alps, Arctic |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Deer Ked
A flattened, reddish-brown blood-sucking fly that sheds its wings upon finding a deer host. It clings tenaciously to the hair with strong claws and feeds on blood throughout its life.
Did You Know?
After landing on a host, it breaks off its own wings permanently, spending the rest of its life as a wingless ectoparasite.
High-altitude Hover Fly
A small hover fly with flattened front legs, found in alpine and arctic habitats. It is an important pollinator of mountain wildflowers.
Did You Know?
Its flattened front tarsi are thought to help scrape pollen from flowers.