Natal Fruit Fly vs Common Lime Butterfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Natal Fruit Fly Common Lime Butterfly
Scientific Name Ceratitis rosa Papilio demoleus
Order Diptera Lepidoptera
Family Tephritidae Papilionidae
Size 4-6 mm 80-100 mm wingspan
Habitat Orchards Orchards
Diet Fruit Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Sub-Saharan Africa, Indian Ocean Islands South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, Caribbean
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Natal Fruit Fly

A colorful African fruit fly closely related to the Mediterranean fruit fly. It attacks tropical and subtropical fruits across sub-Saharan Africa.

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Did You Know?

It prefers cooler, higher-altitude habitats than the medfly, occupying a complementary niche in Africa.

Common Lime Butterfly

Black swallowtail covered in pale yellow spots and lacking hindwing tails. A major pest of citrus across Asia and recently invaded the Caribbean.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the most successful invasive butterflies, having colonized the Caribbean since 2004.