Northern Black Fly vs Parasitic Bee Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Northern Black Fly Parasitic Bee Fly
Scientific Name Simulium venustum Winthemia rufopicta
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Simuliidae Tachinidae
Size 2-4 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Forests Farmland
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions North America North America, Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Northern Black Fly

A common biting black fly of northern forests and boreal streams. Larvae form dense colonies on submerged rocks in cold flowing water.

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Did You Know?

Females can detect carbon dioxide exhaled by hosts from over 20 meters away.

Parasitic Bee Fly

A medium-sized tachinid fly that parasitizes armyworm caterpillars and other crop pest larvae. It is found across multiple continents.

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Did You Know?

Females deposit multiple larvae on a single caterpillar but only one typically survives to maturity.