Explanation of Names
Author of genus is
Meigen, 1803. From Greek
gymno naked, plus
soma, body, likely referring to the lack of hair on abdomen (Internet searches).
Numbers
Nearctica.com and Arnett
(1) list six species in genus for North America:
Gymnosoma amplifrons Brooks 1946
Gymnosoma canadense Brooks 1946
Gymnosoma filiola Loew 1872
Gymnosoma fuliginosum Robineau-Desvoidy 1830
Gymnosoma occidentale Curran 1927
Gymnosoma par Walker 1849
Identification
Small, brightly colored Tachinids that visit flowers.
Sean McCann points out this fly might mimic the nymph of certain stink bugs:
Range
Includes eastern North America.
Habitat
Found on flowers in fields, roadsides.
Season
May-August (Minnesota). North Carolina: April-November (lower elevations), May-September (mountains).
Life Cycle
Eggs are laid on adult and larval stink bugs and shield bugs
Pentatomidae (2).
See Also
other brightly-colored tachinids such as
TrichopodaPrint References
Eaton and Kaufman, pp. 308-309
(2)
Brimley, p. 357, lists just G. fulginosa for North Carolina
(3)Internet References
North Carolina State University Entomology Collection lists three species for that state, with number pinned: canadense (3), fulginsum (75, i.e., fulginosa), par (20).
Insects of Cedar Creek:
Tachinidae,
G. fulginosaContributed by
Cotinis on 22 June, 2004 - 5:46pm
Additional contributions by
Ted KropiewnickiLast updated 18 February, 2009 - 5:49pm
