Saltmarsh Mosquito vs European Cherry Fruit Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Saltmarsh Mosquito | European Cherry Fruit Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aedes sollicitans | Rhagoletis cerasi |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Culicidae | Tephritidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 4-5 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Orchards |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America | Europe, Western Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Saltmarsh Mosquito
A golden-brown mosquito that breeds in enormous numbers in coastal salt marshes. It is a strong flier capable of traveling over 60 km from breeding sites.
Did You Know?
Swarms can be so dense near salt marshes that they have driven livestock to exhaustion.
European Cherry Fruit Fly
A small black fly with distinctive wing banding that infests sweet and sour cherries. Larvae feed inside cherries, causing them to rot and drop.
Did You Know?
It is a textbook example of sympatric speciation, with host races on sweet and sour cherries.