Seaweed Fly vs Tundra Blow Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Seaweed Fly | Tundra Blow Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coelopa frigida | Protophormia terraenovae |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Coelopidae | Calliphoridae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 7-11 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Detritivores | Carrion Feeders |
| Regions | North Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia, 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.
Did You Know?
It is a model organism for studying sexual selection because larger males win more mating contests.
Tundra Blow Fly
A metallic dark blue blow fly common across Arctic and subarctic regions. It is one of the first flies to become active in spring. Adults are attracted to carrion and can detect dead animals from great distances.
Did You Know?
This fly is so cold-tolerant that it is used in forensic entomology to determine time of death in cold climates where other blow flies cannot survive.