South African Robber Fly vs Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | South African Robber Fly | Arctic Woolly Bear Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Alcimus tristrigatus | Gynaephora groenlandica |
| Order | Diptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Asilidae | Erebidae |
| Size | 18-26 mm | 30-40 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Predators | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southern Africa | Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland, Ellesmere Island |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
South African Robber Fly
A large, hairy robber fly endemic to southern Africa's fynbos and savanna. It perches conspicuously on shrubs while scanning for prey.
Did You Know?
Southern Africa harbors one of the richest robber fly faunas in the world.
Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
A medium-sized moth whose caterpillar is famous for its extremely long development. Adults are gray-brown with hairy bodies. The densely hairy caterpillar is dark brown to black and curls into a tight ball when disturbed.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar can take up to 14 years to complete development, spending most of each year frozen solid and thawing for only a few weeks of feeding each summer.