Reindeer Nose Bot Fly vs Neotropical Robber Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Reindeer Nose Bot Fly Neotropical Robber Fly
Scientific Name Cephenemyia trompe Ommatius orenoquensis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Oestridae Asilidae
Size 14-18 mm 10-15 mm
Habitat Heathland Forests
Diet Omnivores Predators
Regions Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

Neotropical Robber Fly

A slender tropical robber fly found in South American lowland forests. It hunts from leaf tips in the forest understory.

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Did You Know?

The genus Ommatius is one of the most species-rich robber fly genera in the tropics.