Villa Bee Fly vs Cluster Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Villa Bee Fly | Cluster Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Villa hottentotta | Pollenia rudis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Bombyliidae | Calliphoridae |
| Size | 10-16 mm | 8-10 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Gardens |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Parasites |
| Regions | Europe, Central Asia | Europe, 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.
Cluster Fly
A medium-sized, dark gray fly with golden-brown hairs on the thorax. In autumn, it gathers in large clusters inside buildings to hibernate, sometimes in the thousands.
Did You Know?
The larvae of this fly are earthworm parasites, burrowing into the worm through its skin and consuming it alive from the inside over several weeks.