Painted Soldier Fly vs Red-footed Robber Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Painted Soldier Fly | Red-footed Robber Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sargus cuprarius | Dioctria rufipes |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Stratiomyidae | Asilidae |
| Size | 10-14 mm | 9-13 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Woodlands |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, Western Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Painted Soldier Fly
A brilliantly metallic coppery-green soldier fly with a slender body and clear wings. It basks on sunlit vegetation and is often seen on hogweed and other umbellifers.
Did You Know?
Its metallic sheen changes color depending on the viewing angle, a phenomenon called structural coloration.
Red-footed Robber Fly
A slender, metallic-dark robber fly with conspicuous orange-red legs found in European woodlands. It specializes in ambushing small flies and midges from sunlit perches on leaves.
Did You Know?
It is one of the earliest robber flies to appear each year, often active from late spring when most other asilids are still developing.