Rothschild's Achias vs Caribou Bot Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Rothschild's Achias | Caribou Bot Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Achias rothschildi | Cephenemyia jellisoni |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Platystomatidae | Oestridae |
| Size | 15-18 mm | 12-16 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Heathland |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Papua New Guinea | Alaska, northern Canada, Yukon, Northwest Territories |
| Conservation | Data Deficient | Least Concern |
Rothschild's Achias
A remarkable Papua New Guinean fly where males have enormously elongated eye stalks. Males use their extended eyes to size up rivals. Has the largest head capsule of any known insect.
Did You Know?
Has the largest head capsule relative to body size of any insect, with eye stalks wider than its body.
Caribou Bot Fly
A robust, furry fly that parasitizes caribou and deer in North America. Like its Eurasian relative, it deposits larvae near the nostrils of its host. Adults have vestigial mouthparts and survive entirely on stored energy.
Did You Know?
Infected caribou may sneeze violently to expel mature bot fly larvae from their nasal passages before the larvae pupate in the soil.