Thursday, June 19, 2008

Tachinid Fly (Archytas sp.)



Tachinid Fly (Archytas sp.)

Spiky long before being punk became cool. Genus presumably named after the Greek philosopher and mathematician Archytas.

I couldn't find any information specific to this genus, but in general, BugGuide says:

Tachinid fly larval stages are parasitoids of other insects. Some tachinids are very specific and others can parasitize a wide variety of hosts. The most common hosts are caterpillars. Most tachinids deposit their eggs directly on the body of their host, and it is not uncommon to see caterpillars with several tachinid eggs on them. Upon hatching the larva usually burrows into its host and feeds internally. When fully developed it leaves the host and pupates nearby. Some tachinids lay their eggs on foliage; the larvae are flattened and are called planidia; they remain on the foliage until they find a suitable host.
Thanks to Kenneth Harrelson on BugGuide for the ID.


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6 comments:

Pat - Arkansas said...

Looks like a metal-masked alien! Great photo of a creepy critter.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Nice picture of the punk. We have been having some shiny coppery looking flies lately.

Andree said...

What a great fly, all black and silvery. Before I starting photographing flies and spiders I had the usual disgust for them. Now I want to know more! So this is great. Wonder if this fly of yours lives up here.

smilnsigh said...

Burl Ives sang a song in one of the Disney movies... Called "The Ugly Bug Ball." "I wanna' crawl, to the Ugly Bug Ball. A lovely time is had there, by one and all..." Or something like that. Anyway...

This guy would be King of that Ball! Or if this fly is a She, then she would be Queen of it.

Brrrrrrrrrrr...

Mari-Nanci
'Photos-City-Mine' blog

Anonymous said...

What an amazing shot! That silvery head and those big eyes....

Tom said...

A great little Punk fly.. the name suits it...are those spikes a defence method? Sure is ugly