Long-tailed Skipper vs Face Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Long-tailed Skipper | Face Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Urbanus proteus | Musca autumnalis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Hesperiidae | Muscidae |
| Size | 43-55 mm wingspan | 7-8 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southern United States through Central and South America | Europe, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Long-tailed Skipper
A striking skipper with iridescent blue-green body and wing bases and long tail-like projections on the hindwings. It is a strong flier and occasional migrant.
Did You Know?
Known as the bean leaf roller because the caterpillar folds bean leaves into tubular shelters.
Face Fly
A non-biting muscid fly that feeds on secretions around the eyes and nose of cattle. It is a mechanical vector of the cattle pinkeye pathogen Moraxella bovis.
Did You Know?
It enters homes in large numbers each autumn to overwinter, hence the name autumnalis.