Feather-legged fly (female)

Description:

Trichopoda is a genus of tachinid flies, commonly known as the feather-legged flies or hairy-legged flies. The name comes from Greek, Tricho meaning hair and poda meaning foot. They are small, brightly-coloured flies that congregate on flowers, feeding on nectar. The vestigial hind wings are covered with yellow scales and there is a fringe of hairs on the hind legs. The larvae are parasitoids of true bugs in the order Hemiptera, including stink bugs and squash bugs in the family Pentatomidae and leaf-footed bugs in the family Coreidae. They are found in North and South America.

Habitat:

Found around flowers at the edge of a wetland area.

Notes:

These flies are sexually dimorphic. The males have orange abdomens and the females have dark abdomens. I had never seen this genera until last year and I became quickly enamored with them. I can't wait to see them again this year and stalk them among the flowers.