Water Measurer vs Caribou Bot Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Water Measurer | Caribou Bot Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hydrometra australis | Cephenemyia jellisoni |
| Order | Hemiptera | Diptera |
| Family | Hydrometridae | Oestridae |
| Size | 8-11 mm | 12-16 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Heathland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Americas, from southern United States to South America | Alaska, northern Canada, Yukon, Northwest Territories |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Water Measurer
A very slender, elongate semi-aquatic bug that walks slowly on water surfaces in the Americas. Its head is exceptionally long and narrow with a small rostrum at the tip. It moves with slow, deliberate steps along pond margins.
Did You Know?
It is so lightweight that it can walk on the water surface without breaking the surface tension, leaving no visible dimples where its feet contact the water.
Caribou Bot Fly
A robust, furry fly that parasitizes caribou and deer in North America. Like its Eurasian relative, it deposits larvae near the nostrils of its host. Adults have vestigial mouthparts and survive entirely on stored energy.
Did You Know?
Infected caribou may sneeze violently to expel mature bot fly larvae from their nasal passages before the larvae pupate in the soil.