Silvius Horse Fly vs Sonorensis Biting Midge

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Silvius Horse Fly Sonorensis Biting Midge
Scientific Name Silvius alpinus Culicoides sonorensis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Tabanidae Ceratopogonidae
Size 8-11 mm 1-3 mm
Habitat Forests Farmland
Diet Blood Feeders Blood Feeders
Regions Central and Southern Europe North America, especially southwestern United States
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Silvius Horse Fly

A small brownish horse fly found in mountain forests and alpine meadows. It is one of the few horse flies adapted to high-altitude habitats.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few horse fly species that thrives at altitudes above 1500 meters.

Sonorensis Biting Midge

A small biting midge that is the primary vector of bluetongue virus and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus in North America. It breeds in muddy margins of dairy wastewater ponds and is most abundant in the southwestern United States. It is responsible for severe livestock disease outbreaks.

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Did You Know?

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease transmitted by this midge kills thousands of white-tailed deer across North America annually.