Sand Gnat vs Parasitic Bee Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Sand Gnat | Parasitic Bee Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Culicoides furens | Winthemia rufopicta |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Ceratopogonidae | Tachinidae |
| Size | 1-2.5 mm | 6-9 mm |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Farmland |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Coastal Americas from the southeastern United States to Brazil | North America, Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Sand Gnat
A very small biting midge commonly known as a no-see-um due to its near-invisible size. Despite being barely visible, its bite is intensely painful and causes persistent itching.
Did You Know?
It is so small it can pass through standard window screens, earning the nickname no-see-um.
Parasitic Bee Fly
A medium-sized tachinid fly that parasitizes armyworm caterpillars and other crop pest larvae. It is found across multiple continents.
Did You Know?
Females deposit multiple larvae on a single caterpillar but only one typically survives to maturity.