Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Grimshawi) vs Golden-belted Tachinid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Grimshawi) Golden-belted Tachinid
Scientific Name Drosophila grimshawi Ectophasia crassipennis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Drosophilidae Tachinidae
Size 4-6 mm 6-10 mm
Habitat Mountains Underground
Diet Wood Feeders Parasites
Regions Oceania (Hawaii - Maui, Hawaii Island) Europe
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.

Golden-belted Tachinid

A colorful parasitic fly with golden-yellow markings and dark wing patches. Parasitizes shieldbugs and stink bugs. Often seen on umbellifer flowers.

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Did You Know?

The conspicuous wing markings may be involved in mating displays among the otherwise cryptic tachinid flies.