Ornate Soldier Fly vs Western Encephalitis Mosquito
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ornate Soldier Fly | Western Encephalitis Mosquito |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Odontomyia ornata | Culex tarsalis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Stratiomyidae | Culicidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Wetlands |
| Diet | Herbivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Western North America, from Canada to Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Ornate Soldier Fly
A medium-sized soldier fly with a green and black patterned abdomen and a somewhat flattened body. Adults are sluggish fliers often found basking on waterside vegetation.
Did You Know?
Its aquatic larvae have a unique hydrophobic tail fringe that acts as a breathing snorkel at the water surface.
Western Encephalitis Mosquito
A medium-sized mosquito with a distinctive white band on the proboscis and banded legs. It is the most important vector of Western equine encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis in western North America. It breeds in a wide variety of sunlit and shaded water sources.
Did You Know?
Its feeding behavior shifts seasonally from birds in spring to mammals in late summer, which drives encephalitis virus spillover to humans.