Apple Maggot Fly vs Villa Bee Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Apple Maggot Fly | Villa Bee Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rhagoletis pomonella | Villa hottentotta |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Tephritidae | Bombyliidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 10-16 mm |
| Habitat | Orchards | Heathland |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Eastern North America | Europe, Central Asia |
| 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.
Villa Bee Fly
A striking bee fly with dark-tipped wings and a stout, densely hairy body. Its larvae are parasitoids of moth caterpillars and pupae in the soil.
Did You Know?
Despite its fearsome appearance with dark smoky wings, it is a harmless nectar feeder that cannot bite or sting.