Short-winged Firefly vs Neavei Black Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Short-winged Firefly | Neavei Black Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lucidota atra | Simulium neavei |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Lampyridae | Simuliidae |
| Size | 8-13 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | North America | East Africa, including Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Short-winged Firefly
A dark-bodied, day-active firefly that has lost the ability to produce light as an adult. It has a black body with a reddish-orange pronotum and is often found on tree trunks and vegetation.
Did You Know?
Despite being a firefly, this diurnal species relies on chemical pheromones rather than light signals to find mates.
Neavei Black Fly
A small black fly whose larvae uniquely attach to freshwater crabs rather than rocks or vegetation. It is a vector of river blindness in East Africa, particularly in forested areas. The association with crabs makes it vulnerable to control by removing the crab hosts.
Did You Know?
Eliminating the freshwater crabs that carry its larvae successfully eradicated onchocerciasis from parts of East Africa.