Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Heteroneura) vs Hessian Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Heteroneura) | Hessian Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Drosophila heteroneura | Mayetiola destructor |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Drosophilidae | Cecidomyiidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 2-4 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Farmland |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Gall Makers |
| Regions | Oceania (Hawaii - Big Island) | Cosmopolitan - originally Eurasia, now worldwide |
| Conservation | Endangered | Least Concern |
Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Heteroneura)
A remarkable Hawaiian picture-wing fly famous for its hammer-shaped head, found only on Hawaii Island. Males use their broad, flattened heads in head-butting contests for mating rights. It breeds in decaying Clermontia bark.
Did You Know?
Males have uniquely hammer-shaped heads that they use as battering rams, headbutting rival males in combat over territory and mates.
Hessian Fly
A tiny dark gall midge that is one of the most destructive pests of wheat and barley worldwide. Adults resemble small dark mosquitoes and live for only a few days.
Did You Know?
Named after Hessian soldiers in the American Revolution who supposedly brought it to North America in straw bedding.