Frit Fly vs Small Magpie Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Frit Fly | Small Magpie Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oscinella frit | Anania hortulata |
| Order | Diptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Chloropidae | Crambidae |
| Size | 1.5-2 mm | 26-30 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Underground |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, temperate worldwide | Europe, Western Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Small Magpie Moth
A pretty white moth with black spots and a yellow head. Despite its name, it is a crambid rather than a geometrid like the true Magpie Moth.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar lives inside a rolled leaf shelter that it spins shut with silk.