Hornet Robber Fly vs Common House Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hornet Robber Fly Common House Fly
Scientific Name Asilus crabroniformis Musca domestica
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Asilidae Muscidae
Size 18-28 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Grasslands Underground
Diet Predators Omnivores
Regions Europe, North Africa Worldwide
Conservation Near Threatened (declining in northern Europe) Least Concern

Hornet Robber Fly

Europe's largest robber fly, a hornet mimic with a yellow-and-brown body that hunts dung beetles on grazed pastures. Females lay eggs in animal dung where larvae develop as predators.

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Did You Know?

It specifically hunts dung beetles, and its larvae develop as predators inside cow pats and horse droppings.

Common House Fly

One of the most widely distributed insects on Earth. Can taste with their feet, which have chemoreceptors. Capable of rapid reproduction with complete lifecycle in 7-10 days.

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Did You Know?

House flies taste with their feet — they have over 100 taste receptors on each foot and can detect sugar just by landing on a surface.