Tundra Mosquito vs Throat Bot Fly of Horses
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tundra Mosquito | Throat Bot Fly of Horses |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aedes impiger | Gasterophilus nasalis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Culicidae | Oestridae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 11-15 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Farmland |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland, Svalbard, northern Alaska | Worldwide wherever horses are kept |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Tundra Mosquito
A small but abundant Arctic mosquito with dark body and pale leg bands. It is one of the most northerly distributed mosquito species in the world. Larvae inhabit shallow tundra ponds warmed by continuous summer sunlight.
Did You Know?
This mosquito has been found breeding at latitudes above 80 degrees north, among the most northerly insects on Earth.
Throat Bot Fly of Horses
A yellowish-brown bot fly that lays eggs under the jaw of horses. Larvae migrate to the area between the teeth and gums before traveling to the pyloric region of the stomach and duodenum. It is one of the most common horse bot flies worldwide.
Did You Know?
Unlike other horse bots, this species' larvae prefer the duodenum over the stomach, a unique niche among Gasterophilus species.