New Zealand Sandfly vs Tropical Bat Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | New Zealand Sandfly | Tropical Bat Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Austrosimulium ungulatum | Cyclopodia horsfieldi |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Simuliidae | Nycteribiidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Caves |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Parasites |
| Regions | New Zealand, especially South Island | South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
New Zealand Sandfly
A small black fly endemic to New Zealand that inflicts painful bites, particularly notorious in the South Island's West Coast and Fiordland regions. Despite being called sandflies locally, they are actually black flies in the family Simuliidae. They breed in fast-flowing rivers and streams.
Did You Know?
Maori legend says the sandfly was created by the goddess Hine-nui-te-po to prevent humans from lingering too long in the beautiful Fiordlands.
Tropical Bat Fly
A bizarre wingless bat fly with extremely long spider-like legs and a flattened body. It is a specialist parasite of fruit bats in tropical Asia.
Did You Know?
Its legs are so long relative to its body that it can crawl rapidly through bat fur while maintaining grip during flight.