Sand Fly vs Washburn's Rock Crawler

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sand Fly Washburn's Rock Crawler
Scientific Name Phlebotomus papatasi Grylloblatta washingtonensis
Order Diptera Grylloblattodea
Family Psychodidae Grylloblattidae
Size 2-3 mm 15-25 mm
Habitat Caves Caves
Diet Blood Feeders Detritivores
Regions Africa, Asia, Europe Pacific Northwest, United States
Conservation Least Concern Near Threatened

Sand Fly

A tiny, hairy, yellowish fly with large dark eyes and wings held in a V-shape above the body. Females feed on blood and are the primary vectors of leishmaniasis in the Old World.

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Did You Know?

Sand flies are so small they can pass through standard mosquito netting, and they fly in short silent hops rather than sustained buzzing flight.

Washburn's Rock Crawler

A pale, eyeless ice crawler found in the Cascade Range. It forages at night on snow surfaces in near-freezing temperatures.

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Did You Know?

Their eggs can take up to five years to hatch in the cold conditions where they live.