Mauritius Lowland Forest Day Moth vs Coffin Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mauritius Lowland Forest Day Moth Coffin Fly
Scientific Name Agarista agricola Conicera tibialis
Order Lepidoptera Diptera
Family Noctuidae Phoridae
Size 50-65 mm wingspan 2-3 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Herbivores Omnivores
Regions Mauritius, Indian Ocean Islands Europe, North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Mauritius Lowland Forest Day Moth

A day-flying moth with black wings marked by white and orange patches. Found on Mauritius and neighboring Indian Ocean islands.

💡

Did You Know?

Unlike most moths, it is exclusively active during daylight and rests at night.

Coffin Fly

A tiny humpbacked fly capable of burrowing through soil to reach buried remains. It is of forensic importance as it can colonize remains inaccessible to other insects.

💡

Did You Know?

It can burrow through over a meter of soil to reach a food source below ground.