Conops Fly vs Common Crane Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Conops Fly Common Crane Fly
Scientific Name Conops flavipes Tipula oleracea
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Conopidae Tipulidae
Size 8-12mm 15-25 mm body length
Habitat Underground Farmland
Diet Parasitoids Root Feeders
Regions Europe Throughout North America, originally from Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Conops Fly

A wasp-mimicking fly with yellow legs and a narrow waist. Females parasitize adult bumblebees.

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Did You Know?

Chases bumblebees in flight and forcefully deposits an egg inside the bee's abdomen during a brief mid-air grapple.

Common Crane Fly

A large gray-brown crane fly with extremely long fragile legs that often enters homes in autumn. Its larvae, called leatherjackets, are common turf pests.

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Did You Know?

Despite being frequently mistaken for giant mosquitoes, crane flies cannot bite and most adults never eat at all.