Tropical Bat Fly vs Pyrenean Snow Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tropical Bat Fly Pyrenean Snow Fly
Scientific Name Cyclopodia horsfieldi Chionea belgica
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Nycteribiidae Limoniidae
Size 3-5 mm 3-4 mm body length
Habitat Caves Mountains
Diet Parasites Detritivores
Regions South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia Western Europe, Pyrenees, Belgium
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Tropical Bat Fly

A bizarre wingless bat fly with extremely long spider-like legs and a flattened body. It is a specialist parasite of fruit bats in tropical Asia.

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Did You Know?

Its legs are so long relative to its body that it can crawl rapidly through bat fur while maintaining grip during flight.

Pyrenean Snow Fly

A rare wingless crane fly found on snow in the mountains of western Europe. It is smaller and darker than related snow fly species.

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Did You Know?

It was first described from specimens collected in Belgium, giving it its name.