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Tachninid Fly

Tachinidae

Description:

From Wiki: Tachinid flies are extremely varied in appearance. Some adult flies may be brilliantly colored and then resemble blow-flies (family Calliphoridae). Most however are rather drab, some resembling house flies. However, Tachinid flies commonly are more bristly and more robust. Also, they usually have a characteristic appearance. They have three-segmented antennae, a diagnostically prominent postscutellum bulging beneath the scutellum (a segment of the mesonotum). They are aristate flies, and the arista usually is bare, though sometimes plumose. The calypters (small flaps above the halteres) are usually very large. Their fourth long vein bends away sharply. Adult flies feed on flowers and nectar from aphids and scale insects. As many species typically feed on pollen, they can be important pollinators of some plants, especially at higher elevations in mountains where bees are relatively few. The Tachinidae are a large and variable family of true flies within the insect order Diptera, with more than 8,200 known species and many more to be discovered. Over 1300 species have been described in North America alone. Insects in this family commonly are called tachina flies or simply tachinids. As far as is known, they all are Protelean parasitoids, or occasionally parasites, of Arthropoda.

Notes:

I have looked all over for a fly that even remotely looks close to this one and am unable to identify. help appreciated! :)

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4 Comments

Cindyloohoo
Cindyloohoo 8 years ago

thank you!! :)

Beautiful!

Cindyloohoo
Cindyloohoo 8 years ago

Thank you SO much!!!!! I knew someone here would know! Will update tomorrow!!

Juan DiTrani
Juan DiTrani 8 years ago

This is a Tachinid fly

Cindyloohoo
Spotted by
Cindyloohoo

Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee, USA

Spotted on Jul 6, 2014
Submitted on Jun 15, 2015

Spotted for Mission

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Reference

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