Striped Hawkmoth vs Frit Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Striped Hawkmoth | Frit Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hyles livornica | Oscinella frit |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Sphingidae | Chloropidae |
| Size | Wingspan 60-80mm | 1.5-2 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, Africa, Asia | Europe, temperate worldwide |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Striped Hawkmoth
A streamlined hawk-moth with olive-brown forewings crossed by pale veins and pink-banded hindwings. It is a strong migrant covering thousands of kilometers.
Did You Know?
It migrates northward from Africa each spring and has been recorded flying non-stop across the Sahara Desert.
Frit Fly
A tiny fly that is a major pest of oat crops and ryegrass. Larvae bore into plant stems causing 'dead heart'. Named from the Swedish word for grain. Multiple generations per year.
Did You Know?
Despite being only 1.5mm long, it can destroy entire crops of oats by killing the growing shoot inside each stem.