Frit Fly vs Caterpillar Tachinid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Frit Fly | Caterpillar Tachinid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oscinella frit | Lydella thompsoni |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Chloropidae | Tachinidae |
| Size | 1.5-2 mm | 5-8 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Parasites |
| Regions | Europe, temperate worldwide | Europe, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Frit Fly
A tiny fly that is a major pest of oat crops and ryegrass. Larvae bore into plant stems causing 'dead heart'. Named from the Swedish word for grain. Multiple generations per year.
Did You Know?
Despite being only 1.5mm long, it can destroy entire crops of oats by killing the growing shoot inside each stem.
Caterpillar Tachinid
A small gray parasitic fly that attacks European corn borer larvae. It was introduced to North America as a biological control agent.
Did You Know?
Females deposit live larvae rather than eggs directly onto the host caterpillar.