Indian Tse Tse-like Fly vs Thyridanthrax Bee Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Indian Tse Tse-like Fly Thyridanthrax Bee Fly
Scientific Name Hippobosca maculata Thyridanthrax fenestratus
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Hippoboscidae Bombyliidae
Size 7-9 mm 8-14 mm
Habitat Farmland Rivers & Streams
Diet Blood Feeders Parasitoids
Regions South Asia (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh) Southern Europe, North Africa, Middle East
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Indian Tse Tse-like Fly

A flattened, leathery ectoparasitic fly that feeds on the blood of horses, cattle, and dogs. It has powerful claws for gripping hair and feathers and moves sideways through the host's coat with ease.

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Did You Know?

These flies are so tenacious that they can run sideways through animal fur and are extremely difficult to swat or remove.

Thyridanthrax Bee Fly

A bee fly with distinctive clear 'windows' in otherwise dark wings, found in sandy habitats across southern Europe. Larvae are parasitoids of tiger beetle and solitary wasp larvae.

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Did You Know?

The translucent 'windows' in its dark wings may help break up its outline, camouflaging it against dappled sandy ground.