Tachinid
Guides
Solieria flava
Solieria flava is a species of tachinid fly in the family Tachinidae, described by Townsend in 1908. It belongs to the tribe Leskiini within the subfamily Tachininae. The species is recorded as present in North America based on distribution data. As a tachinid fly, it is likely a parasitoid, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Sophiini
Sophiini is a tribe of bristle flies in the family Tachinidae, order Diptera. The tribe was established by Townsend in 1931 and includes nine recognized genera. The group is currently classified within the subfamily Dexiinae. Taxonomic status of this tribe has been subject to revision, with some sources treating it as a synonym of Cordyligastrini.
Spallanzania hebes
Spallanzania hebes is a species of tachinid fly described by Fallén in 1820. It belongs to the subfamily Exoristinae and tribe Goniini within the parasitoid fly family Tachinidae. The species has a broad Holarctic distribution spanning North America, Europe, and Asia.
Tachina
Tachina is a genus of large tachinid flies comprising approximately 600 species worldwide. Adults are typically 9–14 mm in length with conspicuous spiky bristles. The genus is notable for its larval parasitoid lifestyle, with most species targeting lepidopteran caterpillars as hosts. Tachina fera, the best-studied species, has a chromosome-level genome assembly representing the first high-quality genomic resource for the family Tachinidae.
Telothyria
Telothyria is a genus of tachinid flies established by van der Wulp in 1890. The genus contains approximately 50 described species, with 25 new species described in 2020 from Costa Rica alone. All studied species are parasitoids of caterpillars, specifically targeting two lepidopteran families. The genus is distributed almost exclusively in the Neotropical region.
Thelaira americana
Thelaira americana is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae. It was described by Brooks in 1945. The species belongs to the tribe Thelairini within the subfamily Dexiinae. As a tachinid fly, it is likely a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for this species are not well documented.
Trichopoda indivisa
feather-legged fly
Trichopoda indivisa is a species of tachinid fly in the family Tachinidae, commonly known as a feather-legged fly. It is native to North America and has been recorded in the United States and Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it is a parasitoid of true bugs (Hemiptera).
Trichopoda lanipes
feather-legged fly
Trichopoda lanipes is a tachinid fly species distributed across North America, from Canada through the United States to Mexico. As a member of the feather-legged fly genus Trichopoda, it is a parasitoid of true bugs (Hemiptera), including stink bugs (Pentatomidae) and leaf-footed bugs (Coreidae). The species has been documented as a parasitoid of several specific host species including Acanthocephala femorata, Archimerus alternatus, Nezara viridula, and Podisus maculiventris.
Trichopoda pennipes
feather-legged fly
Trichopoda pennipes is a tachinid fly native to North and South America that has been introduced to Europe and other regions as a biological control agent. Adults feed on nectar and are active from late spring through autumn. Females deposit eggs on true bugs, particularly stink bugs and squash bugs, and the developing larvae act as internal parasitoids that eventually kill their hosts. The species is notable for its feather-like hind leg fringes and is considered a valuable natural enemy of agricultural pests, though its effectiveness varies by region and host species.
Trichopoda plumipes
feather-legged fly
Trichopoda plumipes is a tachinid fly species native to North America. Adults are distinguished by prominent feather-like (plumose) hairs on the hind legs, a trait that gives the genus its common name. The species is a parasitoid of true bugs (Hemiptera), particularly members of families Pentatomidae and Coreidae. Females locate hosts using aggregation pheromones produced by the bugs themselves, then deposit eggs externally on the host's body.
Trichopoda subdivisa
fringe-legged tachinid fly
Trichopoda subdivisa is a species of tachinid fly in the family Tachinidae, commonly known as the fringe-legged tachinid fly. Like other members of the genus Trichopoda, it is a parasitoid fly that targets true bugs (Hemiptera). The species is found in North America, particularly in the United States.
Uramya halisidotae
Uramya halisidotae is a tachinid fly species described by Townsend in 1916. It is a parasitoid of the silver-spotted tiger moth, Lophocampa argentata. The species occurs across North America from Canada through the United States to Mexico.
Uramyini
Uramyini is a tribe of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) within the subfamily Dexiinae, distributed in the New World. Members are characterized by a distinctive combination of morphological traits including bare prosternum, bare arista, haired eyes, and a cylindrical body plan. The tribe has been documented to contain parasitoid species that attack caterpillars, particularly those in the family Megalopygidae. Taxonomic placement of Uramyini remains under discussion, with some evidence suggesting it may represent a nested sub-clade within Voriini.
Voria ruralis
Voria ruralis is a tachinid fly that parasitizes lepidopteran larvae, particularly noctuid moths including the cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) and soybean looper (Pseudoplusia includens). It is widely distributed across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. The species has been documented as a biological control agent in agricultural systems, with parasitism rates reaching over 20% on some hosts. Developmental time varies with temperature, and females exhibit host discrimination behavior when selecting targets for oviposition.
Wagneria vernata
Wagneria vernata is a tachinid fly described by West in 1925. The species epithet 'vernata' (from Latin 'vernus', meaning 'of spring') suggests seasonal activity in spring. As a member of Tachinidae, it is a parasitoid fly, though specific host relationships remain undocumented. The species has been recorded from Canada and the United States.
Winthemia
Winthemia is a genus of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) comprising over 100 described species distributed worldwide. Species in this genus are parasitoids of Lepidoptera, with larvae developing internally in host caterpillars. Several species have been studied as biological control agents of agricultural pests, including W. rufopicta on Heliothis species, W. fumiferanae on spruce budworm, and W. manducae on tobacco hornworm. The genus exhibits protandry in adult emergence and shows complex interactions with host populations.
Winthemia abdominalis
Winthemia abdominalis is a tachinid fly species described by Townsend in 1919. It belongs to the genus Winthemia, a group of parasitoid flies within the family Tachinidae. The species is known to occur in North America. Tachinid flies in this genus are generally larval parasitoids of various insect hosts, though specific host records for W. abdominalis are not well documented in the provided sources.
Winthemia rufopicta
Winthemia rufopicta is a polyphagous tachinid fly parasitoid known primarily for attacking larvae of Heliothis spp. (Noctuidae), particularly Heliothis zea and H. virescens, in agricultural systems. Adults emerge in spring with males preceding females by approximately one week. Females deposit eggs on host surfaces, with parasitism levels varying dramatically based on host behavior, size, and microhabitat. The species overwinters as diapausing maggots in shallow soil cells. Population dynamics are strongly tied to host availability, with spring declines and fall peaks in parasitism rates.
Xanthomelanodes arcuatus
Xanthomelanodes arcuatus is a bristle fly species in the family Tachinidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1829. It is a parasitoid fly whose larvae develop inside true bugs in the genus Pselliopus (family Reduviidae). The species occurs across much of North America from Canada to Mexico.
Zelia vertebrata
Zelia vertebrata is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae, characterized by a long body, strong abdominal bristles, and a distinctive abdominal pattern resembling vertebrae. It is a generalist parasitoid targeting beetle larvae in multiple families. The species has a widespread North American distribution and is most active during the day.
Zelia zonata
Zelia zonata is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae. It was described by Coquillett in 1895. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other tachinid flies, it is presumably a parasitoid, though specific host associations for this species remain undocumented.