Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

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Species Exorista larvarum

Representative Images

Exorista larvarum - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon (Calyptratae)
Superfamily Oestroidea
Family Tachinidae (Parasitic Flies)
Subfamily Exoristinae
Tribe Exoristini
Genus Exorista
No Taxon (larvarum or mella)
Species larvarum (Exorista larvarum)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Musca larvarum Linnaeus, 1758

Food

Lepidoptera larvae, mainly Lymantriidae and Lasiocampidae. It attacks the Spongy Moth (Lymantria dispar) and Lymantria monacha L. Used as biocontrol

Remarks

A European species introduced into New England and now widespread in Canada as well. The key to central European Tachinidae lists habitat, habits, and hosts: "Open countryside, thin deciduous woodland, orchards, Pine forest. Mid May to End September, especially End July to Early September, at least 2 generations. Usually on flowers; not rare, easier to rear from the host than to catch in open areas. Numerous Lymantriidae, Lasiocampidae, Noctuidae, Arctiidae and Zygaenidae, rare on Sphingidae, Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Notodontidae, Geometridae and Endromididae."(1)

Internet References

EoL
Wikipedia

Works Cited

1.The Tachinids (Diptera: Tachinidae) of Central Europe: Identification Keys for the Species and Data on Distribution and Ecology
Hans-Peter Tschorsnig and Benno Herting. 1994. State Museum of Natural Science, Stuttgart.
Contributed by John F. Carr on 23 October, 2015 - 8:49pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, PaleoJon
Last updated 16 August, 2024 - 6:44pm

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