Blandford Fly vs Mosquito

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blandford Fly Mosquito
Scientific Name Simulium posticatum Aedes aegypti
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Simuliidae Culicidae
Size 2-3 mm 4-7 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Woodlands
Diet Blood Feeders Blood Feeders
Regions Europe Worldwide (tropical)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

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Did You Know?

Named after Blandford Forum in Dorset where outbreaks of painful bites affect thousands of people each summer.

Mosquito

A vector for dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya. Only females bite, needing blood protein for egg development. Can detect human breath CO2 from 50 meters away.

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Did You Know?

Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on Earth — they kill over 700,000 people annually through disease transmission, more than all other animals combined.