Tachinid Flies

Family Tachinidae

Bombyliopsis abrupta. Photo:Stephanie Boucher

Larvae are all internal parasitoids of other insects, especially Lepidoptera. They are beneficial in killing many insect pests. Adults are often found at flowers or resting on vegetation. Tachinidae are small to large flies, usually dark coloured with many bristles on the body. There is a well developed subscutellum between the thorax and abdomen and they also have a well developed calypter at the base of each wing.