Noisy Tachinid vs Common Malaria Mosquito

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Noisy Tachinid Common Malaria Mosquito
Scientific Name Tachina fera Anopheles quadrimaculatus
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Tachinidae Culicidae
Size 9-14 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Underground Ponds & Lakes
Diet Herbivores Blood Feeders
Regions Europe, Asia North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Noisy Tachinid

A large tawny-orange tachinid fly commonly found basking on vegetation in late summer. It parasitizes noctuid moth caterpillars in European habitats.

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Did You Know?

It produces a loud buzzing sound in flight that is distinctly audible from several meters away.

Common Malaria Mosquito

A freshwater mosquito that was the primary malaria vector in the eastern United States. Larvae float horizontally at the water surface in slow-moving waters.

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Did You Know?

It is named for the four dark spots on each wing that distinguish it from other Anopheles species.