Nose Bot Fly of Horses vs Arctic Crane Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Nose Bot Fly of Horses Arctic Crane Fly
Scientific Name Gasterophilus haemorrhoidalis Tipula arctica
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Oestridae Tipulidae
Size 10-14 mm 15-25 mm body length
Habitat Farmland Tundra & Arctic
Diet Omnivores Predators
Regions Europe, North America, Asia, North Africa Arctic Scandinavia, northern Russia, Siberia, Arctic Canada
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Nose Bot Fly of Horses

A dark-bodied bot fly that deposits reddish-black eggs around the lips of horses. Larvae penetrate the lip mucosa and migrate to the stomach, then before pupation they reattach to the rectal mucosa, causing irritation and inflammation. The name refers to the reddish rectal inflammation it causes.

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Did You Know?

Before pupation, larvae reattach to the horse's rectum, causing such irritation that affected horses may rub their tails raw.

Arctic Crane Fly

A large, long-legged fly with narrow wings and a slender body. Its legs break off easily when seized by predators. Larvae are leathery-skinned grubs living in wet tundra soil where they feed on roots.

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Did You Know?

Despite their mosquito-like appearance, crane flies are completely harmless and cannot bite.