Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly vs Cabbage Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly Cabbage Moth
Scientific Name Rhaphiomidas terminatus abdominalis Mamestra brassicae
Order Diptera Lepidoptera
Family Mydidae Noctuidae
Size 2.5-3.5 cm Wingspan 34-50mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Farmland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions United States Europe, Asia
Conservation Endangered Least Concern

Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly

A large flower fly endemic to the Delhi Sands area of San Bernardino County, California. It was the first fly to be listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

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Did You Know?

Listing this fly in 1993 caused controversy when it delayed construction of a hospital in its habitat.

Cabbage Moth

A mottled grey-brown moth with kidney-shaped and circular stigmata on the forewings. Its caterpillar is a serious pest of brassica crops worldwide.

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Did You Know?

A single caterpillar can bore deep into a cabbage head contaminating it with frass and making it unmarketable.