Slender Robber Fly vs American Horse Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Slender Robber Fly | American Horse Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Leptogaster cylindrica | Tabanus americanus |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Asilidae | Tabanidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 20-28 mm |
| Habitat | Meadows | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Predators | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Eastern and central United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Slender Robber Fly
A delicate, narrow-bodied robber fly with an extremely slender abdomen. It hunts small insects among tall grass stems.
Did You Know?
Its thread-like abdomen makes it almost invisible when resting on grass stems.
American Horse Fly
One of the largest horse flies in North America with a dark brown body and conspicuous green or purple iridescent eyes. Females deliver a painful slashing bite to obtain blood meals.
Did You Know?
Its knife-like mouthparts slice open skin rather than piercing it, which is why horse fly bites bleed so freely.