Long-winged Fungus Gnat vs Indian Sand Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Long-winged Fungus Gnat | Indian Sand Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Macrocera stigma | Phlebotomus argentipes |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Mycetophilidae | Psychodidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Underground |
| Diet | Predators | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, particularly the Gangetic Plain) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Long-winged Fungus Gnat
A delicate fungus gnat with unusually long antennae and slender patterned wings. It is often found in shaded damp woodland where it hunts small insects.
Did You Know?
Some Macrocera species have bioluminescent larvae, though less spectacularly than the cave glowworms.
Indian Sand Fly
A tiny, hairy fly with a distinctive humpbacked appearance and large, upturned wings held erect at rest. It is the primary vector of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in the Indian subcontinent.
Did You Know?
Indoor residual spraying with DDT once nearly eliminated kala-azar from India, but the disease resurged after spraying campaigns ended.