Painted Bee Fly vs Congo Floor Maggot Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Painted Bee Fly | Congo Floor Maggot Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hemipenthes morio | Auchmeromyia senegalensis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Bombyliidae | Calliphoridae |
| Size | 7-12 mm | 10-14 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Forests |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Painted Bee Fly
A dark-bodied bee fly with characteristic half-blackened wings that give it a distinctive silhouette. It is commonly seen sunbathing on bare patches of ground in warm habitats.
Did You Know?
It is a hyperparasitoid, meaning its larvae parasitize the parasites of other insects.
Congo Floor Maggot Fly
A yellowish-brown blow fly whose larvae are unique among Diptera in being temporary ectoparasites that feed on sleeping humans. Larvae live in the dirt floors of huts and emerge at night to feed on the blood of sleeping people, then retreat into the floor. Adults do not bite.
Did You Know?
It is the only known fly whose larvae feed on human blood like a bedbug, making it a unique case of larval hematophagy.