Flat-footed Scuttle Fly vs Sand Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Flat-footed Scuttle Fly | Sand Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Metopina oligoneura | Phlebotomus papatasi |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Phoridae | Psychodidae |
| Size | 1-2 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Caves |
| Diet | Detritivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Africa, Asia, Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Flat-footed Scuttle Fly
A minute brown phorid fly with broad flattened tarsi and reduced wing venation. It is associated with ant nests where it scavenges on refuse and dead ants.
Did You Know?
It lives inside ant colonies as a tolerated guest, feeding on the waste materials that ants discard in their refuse chambers.
Sand Fly
A tiny, hairy, yellowish fly with large dark eyes and wings held in a V-shape above the body. Females feed on blood and are the primary vectors of leishmaniasis in the Old World.
Did You Know?
Sand flies are so small they can pass through standard mosquito netting, and they fly in short silent hops rather than sustained buzzing flight.