Frit Fly vs Irregular Weevil

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Frit Fly Irregular Weevil
Scientific Name Oscinella frit Otiorhynchus sensitivus
Order Diptera Coleoptera
Family Chloropidae Curculionidae
Size 1.5-2 mm 5-8 mm
Habitat Farmland Mountains
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, temperate worldwide Alps, Central 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.

Irregular Weevil

A flightless alpine weevil found on exposed mountain slopes. Adults emerge in summer to feed on low-growing alpine cushion plants.

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Did You Know?

Its inability to fly has led to high genetic divergence between neighboring mountain ranges.