Frit Fly vs Owl Butterfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Frit Fly | Owl Butterfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oscinella frit | Caligo memnon |
| Order | Diptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Chloropidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 1.5-2 mm | Wingspan 120-160mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, temperate worldwide | South America, 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.
Owl Butterfly
A very large tropical butterfly with enormous owl-eye patterns on the underside of its hindwings. The uppersides are deep blue-purple.
Did You Know?
The large eyespots on its underwings closely resemble the face of a screech owl which startles would-be predators.