Louse Fly vs Black Hunter Thrips

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Louse Fly Black Hunter Thrips
Scientific Name Hippobosca equina Haplothrips leucanthemi
Order Diptera Thysanoptera
Family Hippoboscidae Phlaeothripidae
Size 7-8 mm 1.5-2.2 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Blood Feeders Pollen Feeders
Regions Europe, Asia, Africa Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Louse Fly

A flattened bloodsucking fly parasite of horses and cattle with powerful clawed legs for clinging to fur. Adults are incredibly tough and difficult to crush.

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Did You Know?

Its body is so tough and flattened that it can withstand being stepped on by its horse host without injury.

Black Hunter Thrips

A tube-tailed thrips found in the flowers of daisies and other composites across Europe. Unlike many thrips, it has a tubular last abdominal segment.

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Did You Know?

Tube-tailed thrips like this species use their distinctive abdominal tube to deposit droplets of defensive fluid when threatened.