March Fly vs Namib Fog Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | March Fly | Namib Fog Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bibio marci | Stenocara gracilipes |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Bibionidae | Tenebrionidae |
| Size | 10-13 mm | 15-20 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Detritivores | Detritivores |
| Regions | Europe | Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
March Fly
A common black fly that swarms in large numbers around Saint Marks Day in April.
Did You Know?
Mating pairs fly joined together with the smaller male dangling beneath the female.
Namib Fog Beetle
A darkling beetle that harvests drinking water from coastal fog in the Namib Desert. It tilts its body into the wind so condensation runs down its shell into its mouth.
Did You Know?
This beetles shell has hydrophilic bumps surrounded by hydrophobic troughs — fog collects on the bumps and rolls to its mouth. This inspired new water-harvesting technologies.