Common Tiger Fly

Coenosia tigrina

Often called the 'killer fly', this species hunts like a miniature hawk, launching from a leaf perch to ambush flying prey mid-air.

Scientific name: Coenosia tigrina
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Diptera › Muscidae › Coenosia
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: grassland
Habitat: Grasslands, meadows, agricultural fields, pastures, and domestic gardens.
Diet: Carnivorous; preys on other small insects, particularly agricultural pests like fungus gnats, leafminers, and midges.
Range: Europe, North America, Northern Asia
Size: 5 to 7 mm in length
Lifespan: 2 to 4 weeks as an adult
Active: diurnal
Threats: Widespread chemical pesticide use in agricultural and residential areas.
Safe to approach?: Completely harmless to humans. They do not bite or sting people, and act as highly beneficial natural pest control in gardens. If one lands on you, simply enjoy its presence or gently brush it away; no medical action is needed.

Coenosia tigrina is a species of fly in the family Muscidae. It is found in the Palearctic ....

Photo: Christian Back, CC-BY, via iNaturalist