Reindeer Warble Fly vs African Blue Emperor
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Reindeer Warble Fly | African Blue Emperor |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hypoderma tarandi | Anax speratus |
| Order | Diptera | Odonata |
| Family | Oestridae | Aeshnidae |
| Size | 13-17 mm | 65-78 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia, Arctic Canada, Alaska | Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Reindeer Warble Fly
A stout, furry fly that parasitizes reindeer and caribou. Females dart at reindeer to lay eggs on their legs. Larvae burrow through the skin and migrate through the body, creating warble lumps under the back skin.
Did You Know?
The buzzing of this fly causes reindeer to panic and stampede, and heavy infestations can reduce a reindeer's body weight by up to 25 percent.
African Blue Emperor
A large, powerful dragonfly widespread across sub-Saharan Africa. Males have a bright blue abdomen and green thorax similar to the European emperor.
Did You Know?
It is Africa's ecological equivalent of the European Blue Emperor, filling the same niche.