Emperor Dragonfly vs Nose Bot Fly of Horses
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Emperor Dragonfly | Nose Bot Fly of Horses |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anax imperator | Gasterophilus haemorrhoidalis |
| Order | Odonata | Diptera |
| Family | Aeshnidae | Oestridae |
| Size | 66-84 mm body, 78 mm wingspan | 10-14 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, Africa, Asia | Europe, North America, Asia, North Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Emperor Dragonfly
One of the largest dragonflies in Europe. Powerful flier that patrols territories along waterways. Can fly at speeds up to 54 km/h and catch prey mid-flight with near-perfect accuracy.
Did You Know?
Emperor dragonflies have a prey capture success rate of 95% — the highest of any predator on Earth. Lions succeed only 25% of the time.
Nose Bot Fly of Horses
A dark-bodied bot fly that deposits reddish-black eggs around the lips of horses. Larvae penetrate the lip mucosa and migrate to the stomach, then before pupation they reattach to the rectal mucosa, causing irritation and inflammation. The name refers to the reddish rectal inflammation it causes.
Did You Know?
Before pupation, larvae reattach to the horse's rectum, causing such irritation that affected horses may rub their tails raw.