Horse Stomach Bot Fly vs Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Grimshawi)
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Horse Stomach Bot Fly | Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Grimshawi) |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gasterophilus intestinalis | Drosophila grimshawi |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Oestridae | Drosophilidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Mountains |
| Diet | Omnivores | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Cosmopolitan wherever horses are kept | Oceania (Hawaii - Maui, Hawaii Island) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
Horse Stomach Bot Fly
A bee-like fly that glues eggs to horse leg hairs where they are ingested during grooming. Larvae attach to the stomach lining and develop for months before passing out.
Did You Know?
Larvae survive the acidic horse stomach by secreting a protective alkaline buffer around themselves.
Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Grimshawi)
One of the iconic Hawaiian picture-wing Drosophila, distinguished by elaborate dark patterning on its wings. It breeds in decaying bark of native Hawaiian trees. The Hawaiian Drosophila radiation is one of the most famous examples of adaptive radiation in biology.
Did You Know?
The Hawaiian picture-wing flies perform elaborate courtship dances, with males displaying their ornate wing patterns to females in ritualized mating displays.