Snow Fly vs Lutzomyia Sand Fly (Whitmani)
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Snow Fly | Lutzomyia Sand Fly (Whitmani) |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chionea araneoides | Lutzomyia whitmani |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Limoniidae | Psychodidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Mountains | Forests |
| Diet | Detritivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North America | Brazil, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Snow Fly
A wingless crane fly that walks on snow surfaces in winter to find mates.
Did You Know?
Its antifreeze proteins allow activity at temperatures well below freezing.
Lutzomyia Sand Fly (Whitmani)
A small sandfly that is the major vector of Leishmania braziliensis, which causes mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil. It bites at the forest edge and in peridomestic environments. The disease it transmits can cause devastating destruction of nasal and oral mucosa.
Did You Know?
Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis transmitted by this fly can destroy the nose and palate, and was depicted in pre-Columbian pottery from Peru.