Spotted-eye Hover Fly vs Desert Cuckoo Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Spotted-eye Hover Fly | Desert Cuckoo Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eristalinus taeniops | Nomada texana |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Apidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | 8-12 mm |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Pollen Feeders |
| Regions | Throughout Africa | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Spotted-eye Hover Fly
A large hover fly with distinctively striped compound eyes and a bee-like body. It is an excellent pollinator found throughout Africa.
Did You Know?
Its larvae are rat-tailed maggots that breathe through a telescoping siphon while living in stagnant water.
Desert Cuckoo Bee
A parasitic wasp-like bee that lays its eggs in the nests of other desert bees. Its larvae consume the host's pollen provisions.
Did You Know?
It lacks pollen-collecting hairs entirely since it never gathers pollen for its own offspring.