Noon Fly vs Spruce Gall Adelgid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Noon Fly | Spruce Gall Adelgid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mesembrina meridiana | Adelges abietis |
| Order | Diptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Muscidae | Adelgidae |
| Size | 10-13mm | 1-2 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Gall Makers |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, North America (introduced) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Noon Fly
A large stocky black fly with bright orange wing bases. It basks in sunshine on walls and fences at midday.
Did You Know?
Named for its habit of basking in the midday sun, often sitting motionless on warm surfaces around noon.
Spruce Gall Adelgid
A tiny woolly aphid-like insect that induces distinctive pineapple-shaped galls on Norway spruce twigs. The galls form when the insect's feeding causes abnormal growth of developing needles.
Did You Know?
The pineapple-shaped galls are formed by modified needles that swell and fuse together, creating chambers in which the adelgid nymphs develop protected from the environment.