Weta vs Apple Maggot Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Weta | Apple Maggot Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Deinacrida heteracantha | Rhagoletis pomonella |
| Order | Orthoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Anostostomatidae | Tephritidae |
| Size | 70-100 mm (body only) | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Caves | Orchards |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
Weta
Giant insects endemic to New Zealand, some of the heaviest in the world. Wetapunga can weigh up to 70 grams. Living fossils that have remained virtually unchanged for 190 million years.
Did You Know?
The giant weta is so heavy it cannot jump — weighing up to 70 grams (heavier than a mouse), it is one of the heaviest insects on Earth and a living fossil from the age of dinosaurs.
Apple Maggot Fly
A fruit fly pest whose larvae tunnel through apple flesh causing brown trails. It is a textbook example of sympatric speciation by host plant shifting.
Did You Know?
It shifted from native hawthorn to introduced apple trees in under 200 years, creating genetically distinct races.