Mediterranean Flour Moth vs Nairobi Eye Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Mediterranean Flour Moth | Nairobi Eye Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ephestia kuehniella | Paederus sabaeus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Pyralidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 10-14 mm body; 20-25 mm wingspan | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Indoors | Indoors |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Worldwide | East Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Mediterranean Flour Moth
A major pest of flour mills that produces dense silken webbing that clogs milling machinery. It is pale grey with zigzag markings on the forewings.
Did You Know?
It was the first insect used to demonstrate biological pest control with parasitoid wasps in the early 1900s.
Nairobi Eye Beetle
A small, brightly colored rove beetle with an orange and black body that produces pederin, a potent blistering toxin. Outbreaks near human habitation cause painful dermatitis known as Nairobi eye.
Did You Know?
Pederin, the toxin in its hemolymph, is 12 times more potent than cobra venom drop for drop and is being researched as an anti-cancer compound.