Window Fly vs Dark-edged Bee-fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Window Fly Dark-edged Bee-fly
Scientific Name Scenopinus fenestralis Bombylius major discolor
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Scenopinidae Bombyliidae
Size 5-7 mm 8-12mm
Habitat Indoors Deserts & Drylands
Diet Predators Nectar Feeders
Regions Worldwide Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Window Fly

A small shiny black fly often found on windowsills inside buildings. Its larvae are beneficial predators of carpet beetle and clothes moth larvae.

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Did You Know?

Despite being found indoors, it is actually beneficial because its larvae eat destructive carpet beetles.

Dark-edged Bee-fly

A subspecies of the bee-fly with slightly different wing patterning found in eastern populations.

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Did You Know?

Hovers at spring flowers with its long rigid proboscis extended, looking remarkably like a furry hummingbird.