Phasia robertsonii

(Townsend, 1891)

ball-nosed planthopper

A tachinid fly in the Phasia, originally described from North America. The species has been reclassified from the genus Fitchiella, where it was previously placed as a planthopper. As a member of the Tachinidae , it is a fly. A 1995 study by Day documented biological observations identifying it as a native of plant bugs (Miridae) feeding on alfalfa and grasses.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Phasia robertsonii: /ˈfeɪ.zi.ə ˌrɒbərtˈsoʊni.aɪ/

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Distribution

North America. Historical records from 16 U.S. states and Ontario, Canada, though current presence in many localities is uncertain.

Host Associations

Misconceptions

The was long known as Fitchiella robertsonii and was classified as a planthopper (Caliscelidae) rather than a tachinid fly. This misclassification persisted until taxonomic revision placed it in Phasia (Diptera: Tachinidae). The extensive biological study of "Fitchiella robertsonii" conducted in Iowa prairies from 2008–2017 actually refers to a different species—the ball-nosed planthopper—which remains the valid Fitchiella robertsonii, while the tachinid fly is Phasia robertsonii.

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Sources and further reading