Tundra Robber Fly vs Scree Weta

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tundra Robber Fly Scree Weta
Scientific Name Rhadiurgus variabilis Deinacrida connectens
Order Diptera Orthoptera
Family Asilidae Anostostomatidae
Size 10-15 mm Body 50-60 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Mountains
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Scandinavia, Finland, Scotland, northern Russia New Zealand
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.

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Did You Know?

This robber fly catches prey in midair and injects digestive enzymes to liquefy the insect's insides before drinking them.

Scree Weta

An alpine giant weta that lives among rocky scree fields at elevations above 1200 meters. It is remarkably cold-tolerant and can survive being frozen solid.

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Did You Know?

It can survive being frozen at minus 5 degrees Celsius by using special ice-nucleating proteins in its blood.