European Thick-headed Fly vs Petroleum Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | European Thick-headed Fly | Petroleum Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Myopa buccata | Helaeomyia petrolei |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Conopidae | Ephydridae |
| Size | 6-10 mm | 5 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Underground |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Petroleum Fly
The only insect whose larvae develop in crude petroleum. Found in natural oil seeps in California, including the La Brea Tar Pits. Larvae eat insects trapped in the oil.
Did You Know?
This is the only animal on Earth that develops in crude oil — a substance toxic to virtually all other life. Its larvae swim through petroleum and breathe through snorkel-like tubes.