Red-Shouldered Ham Beetle vs Snail-killing Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Red-Shouldered Ham Beetle Snail-killing Fly
Scientific Name Carcinops pumilio Tetanocera elata
Order Coleoptera Diptera
Family Histeridae Sciomyzidae
Size 2-3 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Farmland Wetlands
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Worldwide (cosmopolitan) Europe, North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Red-Shouldered Ham Beetle

A tiny, shiny black hister beetle commonly found in poultry houses where it preys on house fly larvae. It is an important biological control agent in livestock facilities.

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Did You Know?

A single beetle can consume up to 24 house fly eggs per day, making it one of the best natural fly controls in hen houses.

Snail-killing Fly

A wetland fly whose larvae are specialized predators or parasitoids of land snails. It has been investigated as a biocontrol agent for pest snails.

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Did You Know?

Larvae enter the snail's shell and consume it alive over several days.