Flesh Fly vs Bee Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Flesh Fly | Bee Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sarcophaga carnaria | Aphomia sociella |
| Order | Diptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sarcophagidae | Crambidae |
| Size | 10-18 mm | 30-42 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Parasites |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North America | Europe, Asia, North America (introduced) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Flesh Fly
A large gray fly with three black longitudinal stripes on the thorax and a checkered abdomen. Unlike most flies, females give birth to live larvae rather than laying eggs.
Did You Know?
Flesh flies are larviparous, depositing live first-instar maggots directly onto food sources, giving their offspring a developmental head start over egg-laying competitors.
Bee Moth
A robust pinkish-brown moth whose larvae are nest parasites of bumblebees and wasps. Females enter bee nests at night to lay their eggs.
Did You Know?
A single larval web can contain hundreds of caterpillars that completely destroy a bumblebee nest.