Hump-backed Fly vs Rat Flea
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hump-backed Fly | Rat Flea |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megaselia scalaris | Xenopsylla brasiliensis |
| Order | Diptera | Siphonaptera |
| Family | Phoridae | Pulicidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 1.5-2.5 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Worldwide | Africa, South America, India |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Hump-backed Fly
A tiny scuttle fly with a distinctly humped thorax that breeds in an extraordinary range of organic matter. It is forensically important especially in enclosed burial sites.
Did You Know?
It can colonize buried or concealed bodies that are inaccessible to larger blow flies.
Rat Flea
A tropical rat flea found across Africa and South America that can transmit plague. It is second to the oriental rat flea in importance as a plague vector.
Did You Know?
Despite its name suggesting Brazilian origin, it is most commonly found on rats throughout sub-Saharan Africa.