Wohlfahrt's Wound Fly vs Navel Orangeworm
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Wohlfahrt's Wound Fly | Navel Orangeworm |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Wohlfahrtia magnifica | Amyelois transitella |
| Order | Diptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sarcophagidae | Pyralidae |
| Size | 9-15 mm | 20-28 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southern Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Wohlfahrt's Wound Fly
A large, gray flesh fly with dark spots on the abdomen that is an obligate parasite of warm-blooded animals in the Old World. Females larviposit directly into body openings (ears, nose, eyes) or wounds of sleeping humans and animals. It is a significant cause of human myiasis in Central Asia and the Middle East.
Did You Know?
It preferentially targets sleeping people, depositing larvae into the ears, nose, or eyes, causing severe tissue destruction.
Navel Orangeworm
The most damaging pest of almonds, walnuts, and pistachios in California. Larvae bore into nuts and contaminate them with frass and fungal spores.
Did You Know?
It promotes aflatoxin contamination by introducing Aspergillus fungi into damaged nuts.