Apple Maggot Fly vs Gray Hairstreak
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Apple Maggot Fly | Gray Hairstreak |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rhagoletis pomonella | Strymon melinus |
| Order | Diptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Tephritidae | Lycaenidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 22-35 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Orchards | Grasslands |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Eastern North America | Throughout the United States, southern Canada, and into Central America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Apple Maggot Fly
A fruit fly pest whose larvae tunnel through apple flesh causing brown trails. It is a textbook example of sympatric speciation by host plant shifting.
Did You Know?
It shifted from native hawthorn to introduced apple trees in under 200 years, creating genetically distinct races.
Gray Hairstreak
One of the most widespread hairstreaks in North America with slate-gray wings and a bright orange spot near its tail. It uses a remarkably wide range of host plants.
Did You Know?
Its caterpillars feed on plants from over 20 different families, making it one of the most generalist butterfly larvae in North America.