Pedician Crane Fly vs Petroleum Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pedician Crane Fly | Petroleum Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pedicia rivosa | Helaeomyia petrolei |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Pediciidae | Ephydridae |
| Size | 18-25 mm body length | 5 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Underground |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, Northern Asia | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Pedician Crane Fly
A large, mottled-winged crane fly whose predatory larvae hunt invertebrates in wet mud and stream margins. Adults are often found resting on vegetation near flowing water.
Did You Know?
Unlike most crane fly larvae that eat decaying matter, its larvae are voracious predators that ambush worms and insect larvae in mud.
Petroleum Fly
The only insect whose larvae develop in crude petroleum. Found in natural oil seeps in California, including the La Brea Tar Pits. Larvae eat insects trapped in the oil.
Did You Know?
This is the only animal on Earth that develops in crude oil — a substance toxic to virtually all other life. Its larvae swim through petroleum and breathe through snorkel-like tubes.