Phasmophaga
Townsend, 1909
Phasmophaga is a of tachinid flies established by Townsend in 1909. The genus comprises five described distributed in the Americas. At least one species, P. antennalis, has been documented as a of saturniid caterpillars. The genus belongs to the tribe Blondeliini within the Exoristinae.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Phasmophaga: /fæzˈmɒfəɡə/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Distribution
The contains recorded from North and South America: Phasmophaga americana, P. antennalis, and P. floridensis from the United States; P. meridionalis and P. phasmophagae from South America (Chile).
Host Associations
- Anisota stigma (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) - First record for Phasmophaga antennalis
- Anisota virginiensis (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) - New state record for Virginia for P. antennalis
Ecological Role
of lepidopteran larvae, specifically documented from saturniid caterpillars.
More Details
Taxonomic history
The was erected by Townsend in 1909 with Phasmophaga antennalis as the type . Five species are currently recognized, though the genus remains poorly studied with limited biological data available.