Omorgus Hide Beetle vs Tundra Blow Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Omorgus Hide Beetle Tundra Blow Fly
Scientific Name Omorgus suberosus Protophormia terraenovae
Order Coleoptera Diptera
Family Trogidae Calliphoridae
Size 10-16 mm 7-11 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Tundra & Arctic
Diet Carrion Feeders Carrion Feeders
Regions North America, Central America Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia, northern Russia, Siberia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Omorgus Hide Beetle

A medium-sized, rough-surfaced hide beetle with a brown to grey body covered in soil-encrusted tubercles. It is found in arid habitats near dried carcasses. Adults produce stridulatory sounds when handled.

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Did You Know?

This beetle can survive in extremely dry conditions that would kill most other insects, thriving on completely desiccated remains.

Tundra Blow Fly

A metallic dark blue blow fly common across Arctic and subarctic regions. It is one of the first flies to become active in spring. Adults are attracted to carrion and can detect dead animals from great distances.

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Did You Know?

This fly is so cold-tolerant that it is used in forensic entomology to determine time of death in cold climates where other blow flies cannot survive.