Dotted Bee Fly vs Secondary Screwworm Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dotted Bee Fly Secondary Screwworm Fly
Scientific Name Bombylius discolor Cochliomyia macellaria
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Bombyliidae Calliphoridae
Size 10-14 mm 8-12 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Farmland
Diet Nectar Feeders Carrion Feeders
Regions Europe North America, South America
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.

Secondary Screwworm Fly

A blow fly that breeds in carrion and occasionally infests wounds in livestock. It is widely used in forensic studies in the Americas.

💡

Did You Know?

Unlike the primary screwworm, it only feeds on dead tissue rather than living flesh.