Giant Western Crane Fly vs Seaweed Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Western Crane Fly Seaweed Fly
Scientific Name Holorusia hespera Coelopa frigida
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Tipulidae Coelopidae
Size 35-45 mm body length 5-8 mm
Habitat Forests Beaches & Coastal
Diet Detritivores Detritivores
Regions Western North America North Atlantic coasts of Europe and 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.

Seaweed Fly

A coastal fly whose larvae develop in rotting seaweed wrack on beaches. It forms massive swarms on strandlines that can annoy beachgoers.

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Did You Know?

It is a model organism for studying sexual selection because larger males win more mating contests.