Mountain Prosimulium vs Big-headed Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mountain Prosimulium Big-headed Fly
Scientific Name Prosimulium mixtum Pipunculus campestris
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Simuliidae Pipunculidae
Size 2-4 mm 3-6 mm
Habitat Mountains Farmland
Diet Omnivores Herbivores
Regions North America Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mountain Prosimulium

An early-season black fly of cold mountain streams in North America. Larvae develop in small headwater streams during late winter and early spring.

💡

Did You Know?

Adults emerge so early in spring that they are often the first biting flies encountered by hikers each year.

Big-headed Fly

A small fly with an enormously enlarged, almost entirely eye-covered spherical head. It hovers in vegetation searching for leafhopper hosts in which to parasitize.

💡

Did You Know?

Its enormous eyes give it near-360-degree vision, allowing it to spot leafhoppers from any angle while hovering.