Big-headed Fly vs Chilli Thrips

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Big-headed Fly Chilli Thrips
Scientific Name Pipunculus campestris Scirtothrips dorsalis
Order Diptera Thysanoptera
Family Pipunculidae Thripidae
Size 3-6 mm 0.8-1.2 mm
Habitat Farmland Gardens
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia Asia, North America, Central America, Oceania
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Big-headed Fly

A small fly with an enormously enlarged, almost entirely eye-covered spherical head. It hovers in vegetation searching for leafhopper hosts in which to parasitize.

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Did You Know?

Its enormous eyes give it near-360-degree vision, allowing it to spot leafhoppers from any angle while hovering.

Chilli Thrips

A tiny pale yellow thrips that is an invasive pest of peppers, strawberries, and ornamental plants. It causes severe scarring and distortion of new growth.

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Did You Know?

Chilli thrips are so tiny that they can pass through standard window screens, making them very difficult to exclude from greenhouses.