Genus Belvosia

Classification · Numbers · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References

Found in Central Indiana, USA 28 June. About the size of a horsefly. - Belvosia borealis

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon (Calyptratae)

Superfamily Oestroidea

Family Tachinidae

Subfamily Exoristinae

Tribe Goniini

Genus Belvosia

Numbers

Nearctica.com lists 15 North American species in genus.

Life Cycle

Flies lay eggs on the host plants of their larval prey, which then ingest the eggs along with the plants. Fly larvae then grow and pupate inside the larval host, which is eventually killed.

Remarks

According to Eric Eaton, "one of the few Tachinid genera that is easy to recognize".

Internet References

taxonomic placement; PDF doc in subfamily Exoristinae, tribe Goniini, plus list of species and synonyms (James O'Hara and Monty Wood, Checklist of Tachinidae of America North of Mexico, 2004)

Contributed by Cotinis on 7 September, 2004 - 5:06am
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Robin McLeod
Last updated 16 March, 2007 - 8:28pm

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