Tachinid fly - BugGuide.Net

Tachinidae: probably Ptilode

Tachinidae: probably Ptilodexia sp.

… Norm Woodley, 24 May, 2006 - 2:04pm

Tachinidae

This one is a Tachinidae. This picture is fortunate enough to show the well developed convex subscutellum (between the wings beneath the scutellum), a key character to set Tachinidae apart. This character usually is not so easy to see due to its location. Good shot! - Chen

… Chen Young, 4 November, 2005 - 8:31am

Thanks

Shooting the critters is the fun part. IDing them is the bear!

Is the "well developed subscutellum" a reliable identifier for the Tachinidae?

Steve

… Steve Scott, 4 November, 2005 - 1:52pm

Yes,

subscutellum is a reliable identifier if you could locate it. What I have learned is to use the row of bristles on the meron between the coxae of mid and hind legs to group Sarcophagidae, Calliphoridae and Tachinidae together. Then use the well-developed subscutellum to separate Tachinidae. So far this has been working well for me, but usually I examine this “subscutellum” on the dead flies under microscope. So when it comes to id images of life flies I think most of the time I rely on gestalt, and it just happened that the fly on your image has a visible subscutellum. - Chen

… Chen Young, 4 November, 2005 - 2:41pm

Thanks

Thanks, Chen. I wish more information like this were freely available on the web.

… Steve Scott, 4 November, 2005 - 3:27pm