Villa Bee Fly vs Black-Headed Blister Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Villa Bee Fly | Black-Headed Blister Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Villa hottentotta | Epicauta pennsylvanica |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Bombyliidae | Meloidae |
| Size | 10-16 mm | 10-18 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Grasslands |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Europe, Central Asia | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Villa Bee Fly
A striking bee fly with dark-tipped wings and a stout, densely hairy body. Its larvae are parasitoids of moth caterpillars and pupae in the soil.
Did You Know?
Despite its fearsome appearance with dark smoky wings, it is a harmless nectar feeder that cannot bite or sting.
Black-Headed Blister Beetle
An entirely black blister beetle common across eastern North America, often seen in large groups on goldenrod in autumn. Its larvae are parasitoids of grasshopper eggs.
Did You Know?
Larvae go through hypermetamorphosis, changing dramatically in form across five different larval stages.