Yellow-banded Eucalyptus Longhorn vs Warble Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Yellow-banded Eucalyptus Longhorn Warble Fly
Scientific Name Phoracantha recurva Hypoderma bovis
Order Coleoptera Diptera
Family Cerambycidae Oestridae
Size 14-28 mm 13-15 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Wood Feeders Predators
Regions Australia; invasive in California, Mediterranean, South America Europe, Asia, North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Yellow-banded Eucalyptus Longhorn

An Australian cerambycid similar to P. semipunctata but with more pronounced yellowish bands and recurved elytral apices. It has also become invasive worldwide in eucalyptus plantations and often outcompetes its congener.

💡

Did You Know?

Where both Phoracantha species co-occur, P. recurva often displaces P. semipunctata through larval competition.

Warble Fly

A large, hairy bee-like fly whose larvae migrate through the bodies of cattle for months before emerging from cysts in the back. Adults have vestigial mouthparts and cannot feed.

💡

Did You Know?

The buzzing of a single warble fly approaching can cause an entire herd of cattle to stampede in panic, a behavior called gadding.