Tachinidae

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                                                   Tachinidae 

Family Tachinidae
There are species with a length of  2 cm, but also of  2 mm. The colours are very different. Most  tachinidae has many bristles.  Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachinidae

The larvae develop inside a living host. Mostly the host will be killed. The host can be a caterpillar, larvae of beetles, sawflies etc. 

The family Tachinidae is divided in subfamilies. Namely: Exoristinae, Tachininae, Dexiinae,  Phasiinnae (The biggest subfamily is the first) These subfamilies are divided in Tribes. The Tribes are divided in genera. 

 

Subfamily Exoristinae (or Goniinae)

"Oviparous": The female lays eggs or "Ovo-larviparous": The eggs either hatch inside the body or immediately after laying.

 Tribe Blondeliini 

Gastrolepta anthracina

Gastrolepta anthracina Subfamily Exoristinae. Tribe Blondeliini  Family: Tachinidae

A small fly. In May I see a lot of them in the garden.

The fly has shiny black abdomen with two white bands (females) or three white bands (males).

Length 4 - 6 mm.
May - September. 2 generations.
Europe, rare in South Europe.

   Gastrolepta anthracina

Meigenia mutabilis

 

Meigenia mutabilis Subfamily Exoristinae. Tribe Blondeliini Family: Tachinidae

Not quite sure. It was sunbathing on an euphorbia.
On leaves and flowers.
April - October. Numerous generations.
Host: verschillende leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) but also Athalia Family sawflies (Symphyta)

Europe.


Meigenia mutabilis  Meigenia mutabilis


Vibrissina turrita

Vibrissina turrita

 

Vibrissina turrita Vibrissina turrita Subfamily Exoristinae. Tribe Blondeliini Family: Tachinidae

Vibrissina debilitata is very similar. But this species does'nt live in the Netherlands. 

Hosts: Numerous sawflies (Tenthredinidae and Argidae)

On foliage.
June - October Two generations
Europe 

 Details. 
Vibrissina turrita Vibrissina turrita  Photos 5-9-2010

 

Tribe Eryciini

Nilea hortulana

Nilea hortulana (not quite sure!!) Subfamily Exoristini. Tribe Eryciini Family: Tachinidae

Host: Species of  Acronicta (Noctuidae) rarer on other Noctuidae, Lymantriidae genus Dasychira en Orgyia or Notodontidae genus Phalera.

May - August. Probably two generations.
Europe

 

   Nilea hortulana    Nilea hortulana

Phryxe spec., probably nemea 

Phryxe spec., probably nemea Subfamily Exoristinae, Tribe Eryciini Family: Tachinidae


P. nemea: 
On foliage. In Summer also on flowers.
April - October. Several generations.
Host: Very numerous Macrolepidoptera


 Phryxe spec., probably nemea   Phryxe spec., probably nemea 

 

Tribe Exoristini 

Bessa selecta

Bessa selecta

Bessa selecta
Bessa selecta Bessa selecta Subfamily Exoristinae, Tribe Exoristini Family: Tachinidae

Mei - October. Several generations.
They occasionally visit flowers. 
About 5, 6 mm.
Host Especially numerous sawflies (Tenthredinidae)

Europa

Comment Jaakko: Just a combination of features: sharp kink in the m-vein, white hairs behind the head, low "short-legged" sitting position and small size. 
 


Epicampocera succincta 

Epicampocera succincta 

Epicampocera succincta Epicampocera succincta Subfamily Exoristinae, Tribe Exoristini Family: Tachinidae

A shiny blue fly. 

This fly is a parasite especially of caterpillars of Whites. (family Pieris)
And these caterpillars are in the garden.
In spring on foliage. In summer they visit flowers.
April - October Two generations
Europe

 The caterpillars of a large white eating The caterpillars of a large white eating Annual Honesty or Silver Dollar (Lunaria annua)

sluipvlieg-5-Phorocera-obsc.jpg (231590 bytes) sluipvlieg-muur-4-Phorocera.jpg (139608 bytes) sluipvlieg-vijver-Phorocera.jpg (169258 bytes) paartje 1 Phorocera obscura 20-4-09.jpg (181186 bytes) Phorocera obscura Subfamily Exoristinae, Tribe Exoristini Family: Tachinidae

In April there are many in the garden.

April - June One generation
Host: Especially Geometer moths (Geometridae)
Length 4 - 11 mm

It looks a bit like a flesh fly (Sarcophaga carnaria)

Phorocera obscura   familie: Sluipvliegen (Tachinidae)

Phorocera obscura Subfamily Exoristinae, Tribe Exoristini Family: Tachinidae

This fly was much smaller (8 mm) I thought, it was an other species.
This species varies in size. From 4 to 12 mm. Their size as adults depends largely on the health of their larval hosts

Thanks to Theo Zeegers and Chris Raper

  Phorocera obscura   familie: Sluipvliegen (Tachinidae)

 

Tribe Goniini

Blepharipa pratensis   familie: Sluipvliegen (Tachinidae)

Blepharipa pratensis   familie: Sluipvliegen (Tachinidae)
Blepharipa pratensis   familie: Sluipvliegen (Tachinidae) Blepharipa pratensis Subfamily Exoristinae, Tribe Goniini Family: Tachinidae

Photo May 2009.
It is a rather large fly. Slightly larger than a bluebottle.
On internet you can read about investigations with the Blepharipa pratensis. Because it is a parasite of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar. A day active moth. This moth is a pest in North America.
On foliage.
April - July. One ganeration.

Europa

Example

the caterpillar of the gypsy moth. This is the caterpillar of the gypsy moth. It walked on the same shrub. 


Eumea mitis


Eumea mitis


Eumea mitis Eumea mitis (probably) Subfamily Exoristinae, Tribe Goniini Family: Tachinidae

Host: Various Torticidae, Pyralidae and Psychidae

On foliage
April - October. Two generations.
Europa

Photo 25-9-2010.    
 

Ocytata pallipes wing Subfamily Exoristinae, Tribe Goniini Family: Tachinidae

Ocytata pallipes Subfamily Exoristinae, Tribe Goniini Family: Tachinidae

Ocytata pallipes Subfamily Exoristinae, Tribe Goniini Family: Tachinidae

Ocytata pallipes Subfamily Exoristinae, Tribe Goniini Family: Tachinidae Ocytata pallipes Subfamily Exoristinae, Tribe Goniini Family: Tachinidae

An easily identifiable fly. Features: A gray body. Orange legs. In the wing the topvein is lacking. The photos are unfortunately not very clear.

Host: Earwigs Common earwig or European earwig (forficula auricularia), forficula tomis,
Chelidurella acanthopygia

On foliage en on flowers.
May - October (The most in July - August) 2 generations.     
Europa

Photos 17-10-2011

Pales pavida

Pales pavida

Pales pavida

Pales pavida Pales pavida. Subfamily Exoristinae, Tribe Goniini Genus Goniini Familie sluipvliegen (Tachinidae). 

Length 5 - 10 mm
April - September. Two generations.
Hosts: Many species Macolepidoptera and some Microlepidoptera. 
Europe

Photo 30-8-2010

According to Theo Zeegers there are only 2 bluish Tachinidae: Pales and Epicampocera.

 Pales pavida. Pales pavida. Pales pavida. Foto 17-10-2010

Subfamily Tachininae. 

"Ovo-larviparous": The eggs either hatch inside the body or immediately after laying.

Tribe Ernestiini 

Ernestia rudis 

 

Ernestia rudis Subfamily Tachininae. Tribe Ernestiini Family: Tachinidae

It's a robust, dark fly.

Mostly on foliage.

Mei - July. One generation.

 



Tribe Linnaemyini

Linnaemyia-3b-28-8-09.jpg (175445 bytes)

Linnaemyia-4bb-28-8-09.jpg (147521 bytes)

Linnaemyia-5b-1-28-8-09.jpg (154754 bytes)

Linnaemyia spec. Subfamily Tachininae. Tribe Linnaemyini  Family: Tachinidae

Not entirely sure. It is a fairly large fly.

Linnaemya tesselans

Linnaemya tesselans Subfamily Tachininae. Tribe Linnaemyini Family: Tachinidae

You do see similarities between this fly and the Linnaemyia spec. above. But this fly hasn't  the brown spots on the side of the body.

 

   Linnaemya tesselans    Linnaemya tesselans

Lypha dubia Subfamily Tachininae. Tribe Linnaemyini Family: Tachinidae

Often on foliage and tree trunks. 
April - June. One generation.

Hosts: Wintermoths  (Operophtera brumata) and different species of the family leafrollers (Tortricidae)

Europe

 Lypha-dubia-1-14-5-2010.jpg (112556 bytes)  Lypha-dubia--2-14-5-2010.jpg (106825 bytes) Lypha-dubia--5-14-5-2010.jpg (98054 bytes)      

Tribe Microphthalmini

Dexiosoma caninum Dexiosoma caninum Dexiosoma caninum Dexiosoma caninum  Dexiosoma caninum Dexiosoma caninum Subfamily Tachininae. Tribe Microphthalmini. Family: Tachinidae

A striking fly with a light brown back, and beautiful eyes. 
The antennae are not as long as the antennae of many species.

I read the larvae parasite the larvae of the cockchafer. 
But I have no cockchafer in the garden. I have many Garden Chafers (Phyllopertha horticola). They are family. Perhaps....... But I don't know.

June - September
Europe

Tribe Minthoini 

Mintho rufiventris

Mintho rufiventris

Mintho rufiventris

Mintho rufiventris Mintho rufiventris Subfamily Tachininae. Tribe Minthoini Family: Tachinidae

Comments: It has large orange patches on sides of the abdomen.

The larvae are parasitoids of caterpillars of the moth Orthopygia glaucinalis or Herculia glaucinalis (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) and probably of the moth Ostrinia nubilalis,  Myelois (Pyralidae) Bembecia ichneumoniformis (Sesiidae)

May - September

    Mintho rufiventris   Mintho rufiventris

 

Tribe Siphonini

Siphona spec.

Siphona spec.

Siphona spec.
Siphona spec. Siphona spec. Subfamily Tachininae. Tribe Siphonini Family: Tachinidae

A small fly.  About 5 mm.
Spec. because I don't exactly know which species it is. You can't determine this fly fom a photo.
You can recognize Siphona to its long snout.  If
you look closely, you can see it on the photo. 


 Siphona spec.

Tribe Tachinini

Peleteria rubescens

Peleteria rubescens

Peleteria rubescens
Photo 6-8-2010

Peleteria spec. Familie sluipvliegen (Tachinidae).  Peleteria rubescens. Subfamily Tachininae. Tribe Tachinini Family: Tachinidae. 

The family can be recognized on the two hairs on the photo next to the bottom of the eye.

We have only this species in the Netherlands. Especially in and near the dunes.

Europe


 Peleteria rubescens Peleteria rubescens   Peleteria rubescens Peleteria rubescens
Two flies photographed 12-09-2010

Woeste sluipvlieg  (Tachina fera )

Woeste sluipvlieg  (Tachina fera )

Woeste sluipvlieg  (Tachina fera )

Tachina fera Subfamily Tachininae. Tribe Tachinini Family: Tachinidae Tachina fera Subfamily Tachininae. Tribe Tachinini Family: Tachinidae

Tachina magnicornis is also possible.

This fly was very striking that day between the hoverflies. 
It is very easy to recognize by the red back with the black stripe in the middle and the stiff hairs.
The larva of the Tachina f
era feed on caterpillars. The eggs are laid on the leaves. The larvae move towards their host and get into their body. After about two weeks, it changes into a fly.
Larvae of other Tachina species parasites on larvae of other insects.
Length: 9 - 16 mm

Tachina magnicornis: The black belt on the back is wider and wider at the end. (not always)

 

Subfamily Dexiinae

"Ovo-larviparous": The eggs either hatch inside the body or immediately after laying.

Tribe Voriini 

Eriothrix rufomaculatus Family: Tachinidae

Eriothrix rufomaculatus Subfamily Dexiinae, Tribe Voriini Family: Tachinidae

I read somewhere, this fly is a parasite especially of caterpillars of snot moths (Pyralidae). But I am not sure.

Length 10 - 15 mm
June - October (sometimes in May)
Europa

German: Rotgefleckten Raupenfliege

Eriothrix rufomaculatus Family: Tachinidae Eriothrix rufomaculatus Family: Tachinidae  

Ramonda spathulata

Ramonda spathulata  Subfamily Dexiinae. Tribe Voriini Family: Tachinidae

The larvae are parasitoids of caterpillars of the owlet moth (Noctuidae) 
According to Theo Zeegers they are not so common in the Netherlands, but more often seen in the dune area.

April - October (The most in May - June)

   Ramonda spathulata Photos 6-5-2010

Voria ruralis

Voria ruralis Subfamily Dexiinae. Tribe Voriini Family: Tachinidae

Host:  Plusia  (especially P. gamma )
On foliage and flowers.
May - November (Especially Augustus - September)
Europe

  Voria ruralis   Voria ruralis   Voria ruralis Photo 22-9-2010


Subfamily Phasiinae
 

Phasiinae are parasitoids of Heteroptera. (Exept Strongygaster) Their abdomen has a few or no bristles.
"Oviparous": The female lays eggs.

Tribe Phasiini

Phasia hemiptera

Phasia hemiptera Subfamily Phasiinae. Tribe Phasiini. Family: Tachinidae

The female lays their eggs on shieldbugs. The main hosts are  (Pentatoma rufipes) and the Green shield bug (Palomena prasina). 
This is a female. The male is more colourful and has beautiful curved patterned wings. 

The fly looks like a hoverfly. It misses the bristles of many other Tachinidae

Length: 12 - 15 mm.
Northern and Southern Europe. 
April - September. Two generations.

       Phasia hemiptera  Phasia hemiptera

Phasia barbifrons

Phasia barbifrons Subfamily Phasiinae. Tribe Phasiini. Family: Tachinidae

This is also a parasite of bugs. (It is not known to me which), but this fly is much smaller than the Phasia Hemiptera. It looks like Phasia pusilla. But Phasia pusilla has dark halteres. Phasia barbifrons has yellow halteres and a hairy parafrontal (forehead to the eyes.)
The thorax is completely matt-black.
Length: about 4 mm.
Europe.
July to October. Two generations

   Phasia barbifrons    Phasia barbifrons   Phasia barbifrons Foto 22-9-2010



Subclytia rotundiventris Familie sluipvliegen (Tachinidae). 

Subclytia rotundiventris Familie sluipvliegen (Tachinidae). 

Subclytia rotundiventris Familie sluipvliegen (Tachinidae).  Subclytia rotundiventris Subfamily Phasiinae. Tribe Phasiini. Family: Tachinidae

According Chris Raper: Maybe a slightly teneral Subclytia rotundiventris. The fly has a gray thorax and orange abdomen. This fly has gray spots. These spots are usually not so good to see. In the middle of the abdomen on each segment is a dark triangular spot.

Length: about 4 mm
May - September.

The larvae are parasites of the bugs of the family
True Shieldbugs (Pentatomidae) and Acanthosomatidae.

Photo 29-8-2010.

 

Tachinid spec. Tachinid Family: Tachinidae

Sometimes it is not possible to identify fly from a photo.
This fly unfortunately has no name.

Photo: 13-09-09

 

Tachinid spec.

A beautiful site with much information:   The Garden Safari
Vliegen en Muggen van J.A. van Erkelens  A site about flies with many beautiful photos of Joke van Erkelens.
Informatie about flies: 
http://www.diptera.info/news.php
Informatie about wasps and bees:  http://www.forum.hymis.de

I want to thank everyone, who has helped me (waarneming.nl) to identify. In particular, Joke van Erkelens, Robert Heemskerk, Mark van Veen, Gerard Pennard and Han Endt. 
With the determination of Tachinidae I have had much help from Theo Zeegers and Chris Raper. (On diptera)
I have used information from Dr Hans-Peter Tschorsnig & Benno Herting, 19994. English translation: Rotraud Rayner & Chris Raper, 2001.

 

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