Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events


TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData

Species Pseudacteon tricuspis

Pseudacteon fly attacking fire ants - Pseudacteon tricuspis - female Pseudacteon fly attacking fire ants - Pseudacteon tricuspis - female
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Aschiza")
Superfamily Platypezoidea
Family Phoridae (Scuttle Flies)
Subfamily Metopininae
Genus Pseudacteon (Fire Ant Decapitating Flies)
Species tricuspis (Pseudacteon tricuspis)
Remarks
Introduced from South America starting in 1997 to control the invasive South American fire ant Solenopsis invicta. It doesn't seem to have a significant impact, though.
released along with P. curvatus (Porter et.al., Florida Entomologist 84(4), Dec 2001)
Print References
Henne, Donald C. et al. 2007. Status of the Fire Ant Decapitating Fly Pseudacteon tricuspis (Diptera: Phoridae) in Louisiana. The Florida Entomologist 90(3):565-569.
Internet References