Hump-backed Fly vs Swallowtail Butterfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hump-backed Fly | Swallowtail Butterfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megaselia scalaris | Papilio machaon |
| Order | Diptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Phoridae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 65-86 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Worldwide | Europe, Asia, North America |
| 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.
Swallowtail Butterfly
Elegant butterfly with yellow wings marked with black veins and blue-red eyespots on hindwings. The tail extensions on hindwings divert predator attacks from the body.
Did You Know?
Swallowtail caterpillars have a hidden orange forked organ called an osmeterium that they pop out from behind their head when threatened, releasing a foul smell.