Speckled Yellow vs Pigeon Louse Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Speckled Yellow Pigeon Louse Fly
Scientific Name Pseudopanthera macularia Pseudolynchia canariensis
Order Lepidoptera Diptera
Family Geometridae Hippoboscidae
Size 26-30 mm wingspan 5-7 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Blood Feeders
Regions Europe Cosmopolitan - worldwide wherever pigeons occur
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Speckled Yellow

A bright yellow day-flying moth with brown speckles across the wings. It flutters through woodland clearings and along shady lanes.

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Did You Know?

Its caterpillars feed on wood sage and dead-nettles, pupating in leaf litter over winter.

Pigeon Louse Fly

A flattened, tough-bodied blood-sucking fly found on pigeons and doves worldwide. It has a leathery appearance, strong claws, and wings that allow it to move between bird hosts.

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Did You Know?

It is the primary vector of pigeon malaria, a Haemoproteus blood parasite that infects domestic and wild pigeons.