Mosquito vs Belkin's Dune Tabanid Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Mosquito | Belkin's Dune Tabanid Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aedes aegypti | Brennania belkini |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Culicidae | Tabanidae |
| Size | 4-7 mm | 1-1.5 cm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Worldwide (tropical) | United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
Mosquito
A vector for dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya. Only females bite, needing blood protein for egg development. Can detect human breath CO2 from 50 meters away.
Did You Know?
Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on Earth — they kill over 700,000 people annually through disease transmission, more than all other animals combined.
Belkin's Dune Tabanid Fly
A rare horse fly known only from the El Segundo sand dunes in Los Angeles County. Larvae develop in the sand and adults are seldom encountered.
Did You Know?
Most of the El Segundo dunes were destroyed to build Los Angeles International Airport.