Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Silvestris) vs Westwood's Leaf Insect
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Silvestris) | Westwood's Leaf Insect |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Drosophila silvestris | Cryptophyllium westwoodii |
| Order | Diptera | Phasmatodea |
| Family | Drosophilidae | Phylliidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 8-10 cm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Oceania (Hawaii - Big Island) | Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia |
| 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.
Westwood's Leaf Insect
A large leaf insect named after the entomologist John Obadiah Westwood. Females are broad and bright green, mimicking fresh leaves.
Did You Know?
Nymphs are reddish-brown when they hatch, mimicking dead leaves before turning green as they mature.