Reindeer Nose Bot Fly vs Cabbage Looper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Reindeer Nose Bot Fly Cabbage Looper
Scientific Name Cephenemyia trompe Trichoplusia ni
Order Diptera Lepidoptera
Family Oestridae Noctuidae
Size 14-18 mm 33-38 mm wingspan
Habitat Heathland Farmland
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia North America, Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Reindeer Nose Bot Fly

A large, hairy, bee-like fly that squirts live larvae into the nostrils of reindeer. The larvae develop in the nasal passages and throat of the host. Adults resemble bumblebees and do not feed.

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Did You Know?

This fly is one of the fastest insects in the world for its size, capable of pursuing running reindeer at speeds exceeding 40 kilometers per hour.

Cabbage Looper

A pale green caterpillar that moves in a distinctive looping motion and feeds on brassica crops. The adult moth has a silvery figure-eight marking on each forewing.

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Did You Know?

It was the first insect to develop resistance to the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis in greenhouse settings.