Greenhead Horse Fly vs Margined Colletes

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Greenhead Horse Fly Margined Colletes
Scientific Name Tabanus nigrovittatus Colletes marginatus
Order Diptera Hymenoptera
Family Tabanidae Colletidae
Size 12-15 mm 8-10 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Beaches & Coastal
Diet Blood Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Eastern North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Near Threatened

Greenhead Horse Fly

A coastal salt marsh horse fly with bright green eyes. It is the most abundant biting fly along the Atlantic coast of North America.

💡

Did You Know?

Greenheads are so abundant in some coastal areas that they limit beach recreation in summer.

Margined Colletes

A small, pale plasterer bee found in sandy coastal habitats across Europe. It nests in loose sand and forages on wild mignonette and sea holly.

💡

Did You Know?

Its dependence on both sandy nesting substrate and specialized coastal food plants makes it doubly vulnerable to habitat loss.