Pigeon Louse Fly vs Featherwing Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pigeon Louse Fly | Featherwing Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pseudolynchia canariensis | Scydosella musawasensis |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Hippoboscidae | Ptiliidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 0.325 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Fungus Feeders |
| Regions | Cosmopolitan - worldwide wherever pigeons occur | Central America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Pigeon Louse Fly
A flattened, tough-bodied blood-sucking fly found on pigeons and doves worldwide. It has a leathery appearance, strong claws, and wings that allow it to move between bird hosts.
Did You Know?
It is the primary vector of pigeon malaria, a Haemoproteus blood parasite that infects domestic and wild pigeons.
Featherwing Beetle
The smallest known free-living (non-parasitic) insect at just 0.325 mm long. Discovered in Nicaragua in 1999, it feeds on spores of basidiomycete fungi in rotting wood.
Did You Know?
At 0.325 mm, this beetle is about the width of the period at the end of this sentence — yet it is a fully functional adult insect with complete organ systems.