Tundra Robber Fly vs Deer Ked
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tundra Robber Fly | Deer Ked |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rhadiurgus variabilis | Lipoptena cervi |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Asilidae | Hippoboscidae |
| Size | 10-15 mm | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Woodlands |
| Diet | Herbivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Scandinavia, Finland, Scotland, northern Russia | Europe, Asia, introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Tundra Robber Fly
A medium-sized robber fly with a dark body and distinctive bristly face. It is an aerial predator that ambushes other flying insects from perches on rocks and low vegetation. Adults have powerful grasping legs.
Did You Know?
This robber fly catches prey in midair and injects digestive enzymes to liquefy the insect's insides before drinking them.
Deer Ked
A flattened, reddish-brown blood-sucking fly that sheds its wings upon finding a deer host. It clings tenaciously to the hair with strong claws and feeds on blood throughout its life.
Did You Know?
After landing on a host, it breaks off its own wings permanently, spending the rest of its life as a wingless ectoparasite.