Hover Fly vs Coffin Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hover Fly | Coffin Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Syrphus ribesii | Conicera tibialis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Phoridae |
| Size | 10-13 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Europe, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Hover Fly
A bright yellow and black banded hoverfly that is an excellent wasp mimic. It hovers motionless in sunbeams before darting to a new position with extraordinary agility.
Did You Know?
Hoverflies are the only insects besides hummingbirds and hawk-moths that can truly hover in one spot, fly backward, and fly sideways with precision.
Coffin Fly
A tiny humpbacked fly capable of burrowing through soil to reach buried remains. It is of forensic importance as it can colonize remains inaccessible to other insects.
Did You Know?
It can burrow through over a meter of soil to reach a food source below ground.