Small Poplar Borer vs Tundra Blow Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Small Poplar Borer | Tundra Blow Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Saperda populnea | Protophormia terraenovae |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Cerambycidae | Calliphoridae |
| Size | 9-15 mm | 7-11 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Gall Makers | Carrion Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Siberia, Japan, North America | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia, northern Russia, Siberia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Small Poplar Borer
A smaller relative of S. carcharias with yellowish-green pubescence and a row of spots along the elytral suture. It attacks young aspens and poplars, causing characteristic gall-like swellings on branches. Widely distributed across the Holarctic region.
Did You Know?
The gall-like swellings caused by larvae are sometimes mistaken for plant galls caused by wasps or mites.
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.