Frit Fly vs Dock Leaf Weevil

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Frit Fly Dock Leaf Weevil
Scientific Name Oscinella frit Rhinoncus pericarpius
Order Diptera Coleoptera
Family Chloropidae Curculionidae
Size 1.5-2 mm 2.5-3.5 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Herbivores Leaf Miners
Regions Europe, temperate worldwide Europe
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.

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Did You Know?

Despite being only 1.5mm long, it can destroy entire crops of oats by killing the growing shoot inside each stem.

Dock Leaf Weevil

A small grey-brown weevil found on dock and sorrel plants. Larvae mine inside dock stems. One of several weevil species associated with dock plants.

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Did You Know?

Part of a community of six or more weevil species that share dock plants, each exploiting a different plant part.