Iron Cross Blister Beetle vs Wohlfahrt's Wound Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Iron Cross Blister Beetle | Wohlfahrt's Wound Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Tegrodera aloga | Wohlfahrtia magnifica |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Meloidae | Sarcophagidae |
| Size | 15-25 mm | 9-15 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Southwestern United States, Mexico | Southern Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Iron Cross Blister Beetle
A striking beetle with bright yellow and black cross-shaped markings on its elytra. It contains cantharidin, a potent blistering agent.
Did You Know?
Swarms occasionally emerge in massive numbers after favorable spring rains in the desert.
Wohlfahrt's Wound Fly
A large, gray flesh fly with dark spots on the abdomen that is an obligate parasite of warm-blooded animals in the Old World. Females larviposit directly into body openings (ears, nose, eyes) or wounds of sleeping humans and animals. It is a significant cause of human myiasis in Central Asia and the Middle East.
Did You Know?
It preferentially targets sleeping people, depositing larvae into the ears, nose, or eyes, causing severe tissue destruction.