Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Grimshawi) vs Coffin Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Grimshawi) Coffin Fly
Scientific Name Drosophila grimshawi Conicera tibialis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Drosophilidae Phoridae
Size 4-6 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Mountains Underground
Diet Wood Feeders Omnivores
Regions Oceania (Hawaii - Maui, Hawaii Island) Europe, North America
Conservation Endangered Least Concern

Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Grimshawi)

One of the iconic Hawaiian picture-wing Drosophila, distinguished by elaborate dark patterning on its wings. It breeds in decaying bark of native Hawaiian trees. The Hawaiian Drosophila radiation is one of the most famous examples of adaptive radiation in biology.

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Did You Know?

The Hawaiian picture-wing flies perform elaborate courtship dances, with males displaying their ornate wing patterns to females in ritualized mating displays.

Coffin Fly

A tiny humpbacked fly capable of burrowing through soil to reach buried remains. It is of forensic importance as it can colonize remains inaccessible to other insects.

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Did You Know?

It can burrow through over a meter of soil to reach a food source below ground.