Plain-faced Dronefly vs Verrucarum Sandfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Plain-faced Dronefly Verrucarum Sandfly
Scientific Name Eristalis arbustorum Lutzomyia verrucarum
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Syrphidae Psychodidae
Size 9-11 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Gardens Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Carrion Feeders
Regions Europe, North America, Asia Peru, Andean valleys of South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Plain-faced Dronefly

A small, dark dronefly with a distinctive bare facial stripe. It is one of the most common hoverflies visiting garden flowers in summer.

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Did You Know?

It can be distinguished from other droneflies by the shiny, hairless stripe down the center of its face.

Verrucarum Sandfly

A small sandfly found in the inter-Andean valleys of Peru, serving as the vector of Bartonella bacilliformis, which causes Carrion's disease (Oroya fever and verruga peruana). It is active at dusk and night at altitudes between 800 and 3,000 meters.

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Did You Know?

Carrion's disease killed thousands of workers during construction of the Lima-La Oroya railway in the 1870s.