Spotted-eye Hover Fly vs Northern Pitch Twig Moth Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Spotted-eye Hover Fly | Northern Pitch Twig Moth Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eristalinus taeniops | Xyela alpigena |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Xyelidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Mountains |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Pollen Feeders |
| Regions | Throughout Africa | Europe, particularly Alpine regions |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Spotted-eye Hover Fly
A large hover fly with distinctively striped compound eyes and a bee-like body. It is an excellent pollinator found throughout Africa.
Did You Know?
Its larvae are rat-tailed maggots that breathe through a telescoping siphon while living in stagnant water.
Northern Pitch Twig Moth Sawfly
A minute sawfly that is part of the oldest surviving lineage of Hymenoptera. Adults have the distinctive elongated third antennal segment characteristic of xyelids.
Did You Know?
This high-altitude species represents a living lineage that has survived essentially unchanged for over 200 million years.