Maritime Long-legged Fly vs Giant Grey Hawk Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Maritime Long-legged Fly Giant Grey Hawk Moth
Scientific Name Aphrosylus praedator Agrius cingulata
Order Diptera Lepidoptera
Family Dolichopodidae Sphingidae
Size 3-5 mm 95-130 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Beaches & Coastal
Diet Predators Nectar Feeders
Regions North America, Pacific Coast Americas (from southern United States to Argentina), occasional migrant to Europe and Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Maritime Long-legged Fly

A specialized marine intertidal fly that hunts on wave-splashed rocks and barnacles. It has a metallic greenish body and uniquely adapted legs for gripping wet rocky surfaces.

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Did You Know?

It can remain submerged by waves for short periods, surviving in an air bubble trapped by its body hairs.

Giant Grey Hawk Moth

A massive hawk moth with gray-streaked forewings and a pink and black banded abdomen. It is one of the largest and fastest-flying sphinx moths in the Americas.

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Did You Know?

Agrius cingulata is such a powerful flier that individuals from the Americas occasionally cross the Atlantic Ocean and turn up in western Europe.