Giant Willow Cossid vs Pigeon Louse Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Willow Cossid Pigeon Louse Fly
Scientific Name Endoxyla cinereus Pseudolynchia canariensis
Order Lepidoptera Diptera
Family Cossidae Hippoboscidae
Size 150–230 mm wingspan 5-7 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Root Feeders Blood Feeders
Regions Australia Cosmopolitan - worldwide wherever pigeons occur
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Giant Willow Cossid

One of the heaviest moths in the world, native to Australia. Larvae bore into the trunks of eucalyptus and other hardwood trees.

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Did You Know?

Female moths can weigh over 30 grams, making them among the heaviest insects in the world.

Pigeon Louse Fly

A flattened, tough-bodied blood-sucking fly found on pigeons and doves worldwide. It has a leathery appearance, strong claws, and wings that allow it to move between bird hosts.

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Did You Know?

It is the primary vector of pigeon malaria, a Haemoproteus blood parasite that infects domestic and wild pigeons.