Greenhead Horse Fly vs Seaweed Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Greenhead Horse Fly Seaweed Fly
Scientific Name Tabanus nigrovittatus Coelopa frigida
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Tabanidae Coelopidae
Size 12-15 mm 5-8 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Beaches & Coastal
Diet Blood Feeders Detritivores
Regions Eastern North America North Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

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Did You Know?

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

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.