Kauri Moth vs Congo Floor Maggot Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Kauri Moth | Congo Floor Maggot Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Agathiphaga vitiensis | Auchmeromyia senegalensis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Agathiphagidae | Calliphoridae |
| Size | 8-12 mm wingspan | 10-14 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania (Fiji, Vanuatu, Queensland) | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Kauri Moth
An extremely primitive moth considered a living fossil, with larvae that feed inside the seeds of kauri pine trees. It retains ancient features including functional mandibles in the adult stage. The family Agathiphagidae contains only two known species.
Did You Know?
This moth is considered one of the most primitive living Lepidoptera, retaining mandibles that most moths and butterflies lost millions of years ago.
Congo Floor Maggot Fly
A yellowish-brown blow fly whose larvae are unique among Diptera in being temporary ectoparasites that feed on sleeping humans. Larvae live in the dirt floors of huts and emerge at night to feed on the blood of sleeping people, then retreat into the floor. Adults do not bite.
Did You Know?
It is the only known fly whose larvae feed on human blood like a bedbug, making it a unique case of larval hematophagy.