Tundra Blow Fly vs Margined Burying Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tundra Blow Fly | Margined Burying Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Protophormia terraenovae | Nicrophorus marginatus |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Calliphoridae | Silphidae |
| Size | 7-11 mm | 18-27 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Grasslands |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Carrion Feeders |
| Regions | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia, northern Russia, Siberia | 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.
Margined Burying Beetle
A burying beetle with thin orange marginal bands along the edges of its elytra. It is common in open grasslands and prairies of North America.
Did You Know?
It can detect a mouse carcass from over a kilometre away by following the scent plume downwind.