European Thick-headed Fly vs Great Purple Emperor
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | European Thick-headed Fly | Great Purple Emperor |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Myopa buccata | Sasakia charonda |
| Order | Diptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Conopidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm | 75-110 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | East Asia, Japan |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
European Thick-headed Fly
A small reddish-brown conopid fly with a distinctively swollen face and downward-curving proboscis. It is commonly found basking on sunny tree trunks and fences in spring.
Did You Know?
It times its emergence with the spring flight period of its Andrena bee hosts, waiting on sunny surfaces to ambush them.
Great Purple Emperor
Japan's national butterfly, known as 'o-murasaki' in Japanese. Males display a stunning purple iridescence on their wings. A large and powerful flier found in deciduous forests.
Did You Know?
Designated as Japan's national butterfly in 1957, the Great Purple Emperor is rarely seen feeding on flowers, preferring tree sap instead.