Dotted Bee Fly vs Indian Sand Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Dotted Bee Fly | Indian Sand Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombylius discolor | Phlebotomus argentipes |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Bombyliidae | Psychodidae |
| Size | 10-14 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, particularly the Gangetic Plain) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Dotted Bee Fly
A spring-flying bee fly distinguished from its commoner relative by spotted wings and a darker fur coat. Its larvae parasitize mining bee larvae of the genus Andrena.
Did You Know?
It appears only in spring for a few weeks, closely tracking the flight season of its specific Andrena bee hosts.
Indian Sand Fly
A tiny, hairy fly with a distinctive humpbacked appearance and large, upturned wings held erect at rest. It is the primary vector of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in the Indian subcontinent.
Did You Know?
Indoor residual spraying with DDT once nearly eliminated kala-azar from India, but the disease resurged after spraying campaigns ended.