Mountain Hover Fly vs Cobalt Milkweed Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Mountain Hover Fly | Cobalt Milkweed Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Arctophila superbiens | Chrysochus cobaltinus auratus |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Chrysomelidae |
| Size | 10-14 mm body length | 8-11mm |
| Habitat | Meadows | Meadows |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Northern Europe, Alps, Siberia | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Mountain Hover Fly
A furry, bumblebee-mimicking hover fly of alpine meadows. Its dense body hair helps it retain heat in cold mountain environments.
Did You Know?
Its convincing bumblebee mimicry deters predators despite being completely harmless.
Cobalt Milkweed Beetle
A subspecies of the cobalt blue milkweed beetle with slightly more golden-green coloring.
Did You Know?
The metallic blue and green coloring warns predators that it has sequestered toxic compounds from milkweed.