Japanese Robber Fly vs Sunflower Maggot Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Robber Fly Sunflower Maggot Fly
Scientific Name Cophinopoda chinensis Strauzia longipennis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Asilidae Tephritidae
Size 20-30 mm 5-8 mm
Habitat Forests Grasslands
Diet Predators Leaf Miners
Regions East Asia North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Japanese Robber Fly

A large East Asian robber fly with powerful raptorial legs. It preys on cicadas and large beetles in montane forests.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few flies capable of overpowering and killing adult cicadas.

Sunflower Maggot Fly

A picture-winged fruit fly whose larvae mine the stems of sunflowers. Adults have attractive amber-patterned wings.

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Did You Know?

Despite being common, it rarely causes economic damage to commercial sunflower crops.