Canary-shouldered Thorn vs Hump-backed Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Canary-shouldered Thorn Hump-backed Fly
Scientific Name Ennomos alniaria Megaselia scalaris
Order Lepidoptera Diptera
Family Geometridae Phoridae
Size 35-42 mm wingspan 2-3 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Omnivores Carrion Feeders
Regions Europe, temperate Asia Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Canary-shouldered Thorn

An autumn moth with bright canary-yellow fur on its thorax and warm orange-yellow wings. When at rest with wings raised, it closely resembles a dead birch leaf.

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Did You Know?

Its vivid yellow thoracic fur is unique among British geometrid moths and makes it instantly recognisable.

Hump-backed Fly

A tiny scuttle fly with a distinctly humped thorax that breeds in an extraordinary range of organic matter. It is forensically important especially in enclosed burial sites.

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Did You Know?

It can colonize buried or concealed bodies that are inaccessible to larger blow flies.