Tundra Blow Fly vs Neotropical Robber Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tundra Blow Fly | Neotropical Robber Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Protophormia terraenovae | Ommatius orenoquensis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Calliphoridae | Asilidae |
| Size | 7-11 mm | 10-15 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Forests |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia, northern Russia, Siberia | South 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.
Neotropical Robber Fly
A slender tropical robber fly found in South American lowland forests. It hunts from leaf tips in the forest understory.
Did You Know?
The genus Ommatius is one of the most species-rich robber fly genera in the tropics.