Noble Chafer vs Apple Maggot Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Noble Chafer | Apple Maggot Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gnorimus nobilis | Rhagoletis pomonella |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Tephritidae |
| Size | 14-20 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Orchards | Orchards |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
Noble Chafer
A scarce metallic green beetle with small white flecks on the elytra. It is associated with old orchards and ancient fruit trees.
Did You Know?
Its larvae develop inside decaying heartwood of old fruit trees, taking two to three years to mature.
Apple Maggot Fly
A fruit fly pest whose larvae tunnel through apple flesh causing brown trails. It is a textbook example of sympatric speciation by host plant shifting.
Did You Know?
It shifted from native hawthorn to introduced apple trees in under 200 years, creating genetically distinct races.