Painted Bee Fly vs Red-tailed Flesh Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Painted Bee Fly Red-tailed Flesh Fly
Scientific Name Hemipenthes morio Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Bombyliidae Sarcophagidae
Size 7-12 mm 10-14 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Underground
Diet Parasitoids Dung Feeders
Regions Europe, Asia, North Africa Worldwide
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.

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Did You Know?

It is a hyperparasitoid, meaning its larvae parasitize the parasites of other insects.

Red-tailed Flesh Fly

A large gray flesh fly with a distinctive red-tipped abdomen. It deposits live larvae on meat, wounds, and feces.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most flies, females give birth to live larvae rather than laying eggs.