Horn Fly vs Japanese Encephalitis Mosquito

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Horn Fly Japanese Encephalitis Mosquito
Scientific Name Haematobia irritans Culex tritaeniorhynchus
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Muscidae Culicidae
Size 3-5 mm 4-5 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Blood Feeders Blood Feeders
Regions Worldwide South, Southeast, and East Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Horn Fly

A small blood-feeding fly that spends almost its entire life on cattle. It clusters at the base of horns and along the back and belly.

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Did You Know?

Each fly feeds up to 40 times daily, and infestations of thousands per animal cause severe weight loss.

Japanese Encephalitis Mosquito

A medium-sized brownish mosquito with a pale band on the proboscis that is the primary vector of Japanese encephalitis virus across Asia. It breeds predominantly in rice paddies, which provide vast breeding habitat. It feeds primarily on large domestic animals, with occasional spillover biting of humans.

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Did You Know?

Rice paddy agriculture creates perfect breeding habitat for this mosquito, linking Japanese encephalitis directly to rice cultivation.