Giant Western Crane Fly vs Deer Ked

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Western Crane Fly Deer Ked
Scientific Name Holorusia hespera Lipoptena cervi
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Tipulidae Hippoboscidae
Size 35-45 mm body length 5-7 mm
Habitat Forests Woodlands
Diet Detritivores Blood Feeders
Regions Western North America Europe, Asia, introduced to North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Giant Western Crane Fly

North America's largest crane fly with a wingspan approaching 80 mm. It inhabits mossy stream banks in western mountain forests.

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Did You Know?

It is the largest fly in North America and one of the largest true flies in the world.

Deer Ked

A flattened, reddish-brown blood-sucking fly that sheds its wings upon finding a deer host. It clings tenaciously to the hair with strong claws and feeds on blood throughout its life.

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Did You Know?

After landing on a host, it breaks off its own wings permanently, spending the rest of its life as a wingless ectoparasite.