Southern Oak Bush-Cricket vs Elephant Stomach Bot Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Southern Oak Bush-Cricket | Elephant Stomach Bot Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Meconema meridionale | Cobboldia elephantis |
| Order | Orthoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Tettigoniidae | Oestridae |
| Size | 11-15 mm | 14-18 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Parasites |
| Regions | Southern and Western Europe (expanding northward) | South and Southeast Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Southern Oak Bush-Cricket
A small, wingless relative of the oak bush-cricket that has rapidly spread northward across Europe, likely aided by accidental transport in vehicles. It is fully arboreal and flightless.
Did You Know?
Being flightless, it likely spread across Europe by hitchhiking on cars and trucks parked under infested trees.
Elephant Stomach Bot Fly
A rare bot fly whose larvae develop in the stomachs of Asian elephants. Females lay eggs around the mouth of the elephant, and larvae migrate to the stomach. It is one of only a few bot flies specialized on elephants, and its biology is poorly understood.
Did You Know?
It is one of the largest and rarest bot flies, and wild specimens are extremely difficult to collect due to their association with elephants.