Tundra Blow Fly vs Sexton Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tundra Blow Fly | Sexton Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Protophormia terraenovae | Nicrophorus vespilloides |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Calliphoridae | Silphidae |
| Size | 7-11 mm | 12-18 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Woodlands |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Carrion Feeders |
| Regions | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia, northern Russia, Siberia | Europe, Asia, 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.
Sexton Beetle
A black and orange carrion beetle that buries small animal carcasses as food for its larvae. Both parents care for the brood.
Did You Know?
Parents feed their larvae by regurgitating pre-digested carrion, similar to bird feeding behavior.