Muslin Moth vs Red-footed Robber Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Muslin Moth	Red-footed Robber Fly
Scientific Name	Diaphora mendica	Dioctria rufipes
Order	Lepidoptera	Diptera
Family	Erebidae	Asilidae
Size	30-38 mm wingspan	9-13 mm
Habitat	Underground	Woodlands
Diet	Herbivores	Herbivores
Regions	Europe, Western Asia	Europe, Western Asia
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

Muslin Moth

A sexually dimorphic moth where males are dark smoky grey and females are pure white with black spots. The contrast between sexes is striking.

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Did You Know?

Males and females look so different they were once classified as separate species.

Red-footed Robber Fly

A slender, metallic-dark robber fly with conspicuous orange-red legs found in European woodlands. It specializes in ambushing small flies and midges from sunlit perches on leaves.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the earliest robber flies to appear each year, often active from late spring when most other asilids are still developing.