Hairy Maggot Blow Fly vs Merus Malaria Mosquito

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hairy Maggot Blow Fly Merus Malaria Mosquito
Scientific Name Chrysomya rufifacies Anopheles merus
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Calliphoridae Culicidae
Size 9-12 mm 3-5 mm
Habitat Forests Beaches & Coastal
Diet Predators Blood Feeders
Regions Australia, Asia, Americas East African coast, from Somalia to South Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Hairy Maggot Blow Fly

A blow fly whose larvae have distinctive fleshy projections giving them a hairy appearance. Its predatory larvae feed on other maggot species on carrion.

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Did You Know?

Its larvae are facultatively predatory and will cannibalize other maggot species sharing the same carcass.

Merus Malaria Mosquito

A saltwater-breeding member of the Anopheles gambiae complex found along the East African coast. It breeds in brackish pools along the coast and in inland salt pans. While less efficient than A. gambiae, it can be locally important for malaria transmission in coastal areas.

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Did You Know?

Its tolerance for saltwater breeding sites sets it apart from its freshwater sibling species in the A. gambiae complex.