Soldier Fly vs Dotted Bee Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Soldier Fly | Dotted Bee Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Odontomyia tigrina | Bombylius discolor |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Stratiomyidae | Bombyliidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 10-14 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Pollen Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Soldier Fly
A brightly colored soldier fly with aquatic larvae that filter-feed in ponds.
Did You Know?
Larvae float at the surface and breathe through a rosette of hydrophobic tail hairs.
Dotted Bee Fly
A spring-flying bee fly distinguished from its commoner relative by spotted wings and a darker fur coat. Its larvae parasitize mining bee larvae of the genus Andrena.
Did You Know?
It appears only in spring for a few weeks, closely tracking the flight season of its specific Andrena bee hosts.