Japanese Soldier Fly vs Horn Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Soldier Fly Horn Fly
Scientific Name Ptecticus tenebrifer Haematobia irritans
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Stratiomyidae Muscidae
Size 10-14 mm 3-5 mm
Habitat Forests Farmland
Diet Scavengers Blood Feeders
Regions East Asia Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Japanese Soldier Fly

A slender soldier fly with a metallic greenish-black body and elongate antennae. It is commonly found near decaying organic matter in gardens and forests across East Asia.

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Did You Know?

Like the black soldier fly, species of Ptecticus are being studied as potential bioconversion agents for organic waste.

Horn Fly

A small blood-feeding fly that spends almost its entire life on cattle. It clusters at the base of horns and along the back and belly.

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Did You Know?

Each fly feeds up to 40 times daily, and infestations of thousands per animal cause severe weight loss.