Thyridanthrax Bee Fly vs New Zealand Peripatus
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Thyridanthrax Bee Fly | New Zealand Peripatus |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Thyridanthrax fenestratus | Peripatoides novaezealandiae |
| Order | Diptera | Onychophora |
| Family | Bombyliidae | Peripatopsidae |
| Size | 8-14 mm | 30-80 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Southern Europe, North Africa, Middle East | Oceania (New Zealand) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Thyridanthrax Bee Fly
A bee fly with distinctive clear 'windows' in otherwise dark wings, found in sandy habitats across southern Europe. Larvae are parasitoids of tiger beetle and solitary wasp larvae.
Did You Know?
The translucent 'windows' in its dark wings may help break up its outline, camouflaging it against dappled sandy ground.
New Zealand Peripatus
A velvet worm native to New Zealand, representing one of the most ancient terrestrial animal lineages. Although not an insect, it is closely related and is a fascinating part of New Zealand's invertebrate fauna. It captures prey by shooting streams of sticky slime.
Did You Know?
Velvet worms shoot jets of quick-hardening slime up to 30 centimetres to entangle prey, a hunting technique virtually unchanged for hundreds of millions of years.