Small-headed Fly vs Meadow Brown

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Small-headed Fly Meadow Brown
Scientific Name Ogcodes pallidipennis Maniola jurtina
Order Diptera Lepidoptera
Family Acroceridae Nymphalidae
Size 4-8 mm Wingspan 40-55mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Parasitoids Herbivores
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Small-headed Fly

A round-bodied fly with a tiny head whose larva parasitizes spiders from the inside.

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Did You Know?

The first-instar larva attaches to a passing spider and burrows inside to feed.

Meadow Brown

The most abundant butterfly in Britain, a brown species with a single eyespot on each forewing.

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Did You Know?

So common it is often overlooked but plays a crucial role as a pollinator of wildflowers in grasslands.