Sergenti Sandfly vs Bee Killer Robber Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Sergenti Sandfly | Bee Killer Robber Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phlebotomus sergenti | Mallophora bomboides |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Psychodidae | Asilidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 20-28 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Farmland |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Mediterranean, Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa | Eastern United States from New England to Florida |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Sergenti Sandfly
A small sandfly with a broad geographic range across the Old World, serving as the vector of Leishmania tropica, which causes anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. It is adapted to both urban and periurban environments. It breeds in rubble, stone walls, and rodent burrows.
Did You Know?
Cutaneous leishmaniasis transmitted by this fly was historically called 'Aleppo boil' or 'Baghdad boil' after the cities where it was common.
Bee Killer Robber Fly
A large fuzzy robber fly that closely resembles a bumble bee in both appearance and buzzing flight. It perches on vegetation and launches aerial attacks on passing insects.
Did You Know?
Its bumble bee mimicry is so convincing that it can sit among real bees at flowers without being recognized as a predator.