Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Silvestris) vs Spotted Wing Drosophila
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Silvestris) | Spotted Wing Drosophila |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Drosophila silvestris | Drosophila suzukii |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Drosophilidae | Drosophilidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Farmland |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania (Hawaii - Big Island) | Asia, worldwide (invasive) |
| Conservation | Endangered | Least Concern |
Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Silvestris)
A Hawaiian picture-wing fly closely related to D. heteroneura but with a normally shaped head. It is found in wet forests on Hawaii Island. This species and D. heteroneura are a classic study system for understanding speciation in progress.
Did You Know?
D. silvestris and D. heteroneura can hybridize in the lab, providing key insights into how new species form through sexual selection.
Spotted Wing Drosophila
An invasive fruit fly from East Asia with a saw-like ovipositor that lets it lay eggs in ripening (not rotten) fruit — devastating soft fruit crops worldwide since its spread in 2008.
Did You Know?
Unlike most fruit flies that only attack rotting fruit, this species cuts into perfectly ripe fruit with its serrated ovipositor — causing billions in crop damage globally.