Blandford Fly vs Giant Lacewing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blandford Fly | Giant Lacewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Simulium posticatum | Polystoechotes punctata |
| Order | Diptera | Neuroptera |
| Family | Simuliidae | Ithonidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 40-75 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
Blandford Fly
A notorious black fly that causes severe allergic reactions with its bite around the Blandford area of Dorset. Females need blood meals for egg development. Larvae develop in clean rivers.
Did You Know?
Named after Blandford Forum in Dorset where outbreaks of painful bites affect thousands of people each summer.
Giant Lacewing
Once widespread across North America, it vanished from the eastern US by the 1950s. A single specimen was rediscovered in Walmart parking lot in Arkansas in 2012 after 50 years.
Did You Know?
This giant lacewing was thought extinct in eastern North America for 50 years — until a single specimen was collected at a Walmart parking lot in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2012.