Seaweed Fly vs Reindeer Nose Bot Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Seaweed Fly Reindeer Nose Bot Fly
Scientific Name Coelopa frigida Cephenemyia trompe
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Coelopidae Oestridae
Size 5-8 mm 14-18 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Heathland
Diet Detritivores Omnivores
Regions North Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Seaweed Fly

A coastal fly whose larvae develop in rotting seaweed wrack on beaches. It forms massive swarms on strandlines that can annoy beachgoers.

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Did You Know?

It is a model organism for studying sexual selection because larger males win more mating contests.

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.