Darling Underwing vs Flat-footed Scuttle Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Darling Underwing | Flat-footed Scuttle Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Catocala cara | Metopina oligoneura |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Erebidae | Phoridae |
| Size | 75-90 mm wingspan | 1-2 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Detritivores |
| Regions | Eastern North America from Canada to the southeastern United States | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Darling Underwing
A large underwing moth with cryptic gray-brown forewings and striking pinkish-red hindwings banded with black. It is commonly attracted to sugaring baits.
Did You Know?
Its Latin name cara means 'darling' or 'beloved,' referencing the beautiful pink hindwings hidden under its bark-like forewings.
Flat-footed Scuttle Fly
A minute brown phorid fly with broad flattened tarsi and reduced wing venation. It is associated with ant nests where it scavenges on refuse and dead ants.
Did You Know?
It lives inside ant colonies as a tolerated guest, feeding on the waste materials that ants discard in their refuse chambers.