Tachinidae (parasitoids)
| Vernacular names | |
|---|---|
| • Deutsch: | Raupenfliegen Schmarotzerfliegen |
| • English: | tachinids |
| • Français: | tachinaires |
Tachinidae
This family of flies contains around 8,000 species of endoparasitoids and parasites. Their hosts are mainly larval stages of Lepidoptera, less frequently larvae and adults of Coleoptera, Orthoptera and sometimes Hymenoptera. Most species are specialized on one or a few host species, however, some are polyphagous. Eggs are usually laid on the host, but some species give birth to live larvae. The larvae enter the host and develop inside. The adults feed on nectar. Several species are considered important biological control agents of pest insects.
The most characteristic morphological character of the family is a structure at the end of the mesothorax, beneath the scutellum which is called the postscutellum. Other features are the bristles covering the abdomen and the form of the arista on the antennae.
For details see the respective page in Wikipedia.
The following genera and individual species are currently entered under this family:
