South American Cuckoo Bee vs Swallow Louse Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | South American Cuckoo Bee | Swallow Louse Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Exaerete frontalis | Ornithomya avicularia |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Apidae | Hippoboscidae |
| Size | 22-28 mm | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Parasites | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Central America | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
South American Cuckoo Bee
A large metallic blue-green cleptoparasitic orchid bee that lays its eggs in the nests of other orchid bees. Its mandibles are strong enough to break into sealed brood cells.
Did You Know?
Its larvae first consume the host's food stores, then devour the host bee larva itself before pupating in the stolen nest cell.
Swallow Louse Fly
A flattened, brownish winged louse fly that parasitizes a wide range of bird species. It moves rapidly through feathers using its laterally compressed body and strong tarsal claws.
Did You Know?
It can parasitize over 30 different bird species, making it one of the most host-generalist hippoboscid flies.