Tachina grossa
Encyclopedia
Tachina grossa or giant tachinid fly is a very large tachinid
fly
found throughout most of Western Europe
. At 15–19 mm (0.590551181102362–0.748031496062992 ) it is one of the largest species of fly throughout much of its range and is the largest tachinid in Europe. It is very distinctive, being hairy and with a black thorax
and abdomen
, and a bright yellow head.
Like most tachinid
flies, the female lays her eggs on other living insect
larva, the fly larvae then develop inside the living host, devouring it and eventually killing it. Its main hosts are the large hairy Lepidoptera
n caterpillar
s, particularly the Oak eggar moth Lasiocampa quercus
and Macrothylacia rubi
.
In the UK there is usually only one generation
per year, though in southern Europe there may be two generation per summer season, though this has not yet been verified. The adult flight period is from July to August. Habitat is dry open meadow
s, peat land, and heaths.
Tachinidae
Tachinidae is a large and rather variable family of true flies within the insect order Diptera, with more than 8,200 known species and many more to be discovered. There are over 1300 species in North America. Insects in this family are commonly called tachina flies or simply tachinids...
fly
Fly
True flies are insects of the order Diptera . They possess a pair of wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres, derived from the hind wings, on the metathorax...
found throughout most of Western Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. At 15–19 mm (0.590551181102362–0.748031496062992 ) it is one of the largest species of fly throughout much of its range and is the largest tachinid in Europe. It is very distinctive, being hairy and with a black thorax
Thorax
The thorax is a division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen.-In tetrapods:...
and abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
, and a bright yellow head.
Like most tachinid
Tachinidae
Tachinidae is a large and rather variable family of true flies within the insect order Diptera, with more than 8,200 known species and many more to be discovered. There are over 1300 species in North America. Insects in this family are commonly called tachina flies or simply tachinids...
flies, the female lays her eggs on other living insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
larva, the fly larvae then develop inside the living host, devouring it and eventually killing it. Its main hosts are the large hairy Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
n caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s, particularly the Oak eggar moth Lasiocampa quercus
Lasiocampa quercus
The Oak Eggar is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae. It is found in Europe and the British Isles.The wingspan is 45–75 mm. The females are larger than the males. The moth flies from May to September depending on the location...
and Macrothylacia rubi
Macrothylacia rubi
Macrothylacia rubi, the fox moth, is a lepidopteran belonging to the family of Lasiocampidae. They are found from Western Europe to Central Asia. The wingspan of the male is 40-65 millimetres. They take flight from May to July, and live in open woodlands and prairies, inhabitant many different...
.
In the UK there is usually only one generation
Generation
Generation , also known as procreation in biological sciences, is the act of producing offspring....
per year, though in southern Europe there may be two generation per summer season, though this has not yet been verified. The adult flight period is from July to August. Habitat is dry open meadow
Meadow
A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants . The term is from Old English mædwe. In agriculture a meadow is grassland which is not grazed by domestic livestock but rather allowed to grow unchecked in order to make hay...
s, peat land, and heaths.