New Zealand Sandfly vs Yellow Drake Mayfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | New Zealand Sandfly | Yellow Drake Mayfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Austrosimulium ungulatum | Ephemera lutea |
| Order | Diptera | Ephemeroptera |
| Family | Simuliidae | Ephemeridae |
| Size | 2-4 mm | 18-25 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Detritivores |
| Regions | New Zealand, especially South Island | North America |
| 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.
Yellow Drake Mayfly
One of the largest mayflies in eastern North America with a pale greenish body. Nymphs live in burrows in the silty bottoms of clean streams.
Did You Know?
Adults live only a few hours but their emergence creates one of the most anticipated fishing events of the year.