Tundra Blow Fly vs Great Pied Hoverfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tundra Blow Fly | Great Pied Hoverfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Protophormia terraenovae | Volucella bombylans |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Calliphoridae | Syrphidae |
| Size | 7-11 mm | 12-16 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Heathland |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia, northern Russia, Siberia | Europe, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Tundra Blow Fly
A metallic dark blue blow fly common across Arctic and subarctic regions. It is one of the first flies to become active in spring. Adults are attracted to carrion and can detect dead animals from great distances.
Did You Know?
This fly is so cold-tolerant that it is used in forensic entomology to determine time of death in cold climates where other blow flies cannot survive.
Great Pied Hoverfly
A furry hoverfly that exists in multiple colour forms, each mimicking a different bumblebee species. Larvae develop inside bumblebee nests.
Did You Know?
Different colour forms mimic different bumblebee species, with some resembling red-tailed and others white-tailed bumblebees.