Tachinid parasite adult and larva

Tachinid Fly Adult

Larva of Tachinid Fly Emerging From Prey

© 2000. Ralph E. Berry, Department of Entomology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.

Tachinid larvae, Winthemia spp., Myiopharus spp. (Diptera: Tachinidae), are parasitic on many destructive pests, including cutworms and loopers. M. doryphorae provides some control of Colorado potato beetle in the Northwest late in the growing season. Adults are 6 to 14 mm long and bee-like in appearance. The body is usually covered with long bristly hairs. Most species lay their eggs on the outside of hosts and larvae enter the body of their prey through membranous areas. Larvae are maggot-like and develop within their host and are seldom seen unless the host is dissected.

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