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Tachina magnicornis / Tachina fera

Parasitic flies sometimes look like houseflies very much, but they belong to another group of flies all together. There are many species of parasitic flies, most are very small and lay their eggs in other very small animals, such as plant lice. The species below does look like the Common Housefly, but it has more and longer hairs. Parasitic flies lay their eggs near or in the larvae of other insects. After hatching the larva of the fly starts to eat the larva of the other insect. There are many species, in the Benelux alone well over 300, and each species is specialized on certain insects.

One of the most common Parasitic Flies in Western Europe is Tachina fera. But there is a huge problem, for it has a look-a-like: Tachina magnicornis. For a long time is was believed you could tell these species apart by looking at the dark line on the back. Tachina magnicornis was believed to have a broader line. But studying many animals under the microscope revieled that Tachina fera could also have a broader line than usual. There is one slight difference in antennae, but it is so subtle that in most pictures and in the field it is impossible to see. So you better be on the safe side and call all these animals: Tachina fera / Tachina magnicornis. If you go to Southern Europe the situation becomes extremely complicated, for there are more identical species over there! In Western Europe Tachina magnicornis is rare, while Tachina fera is very common. Tachina fera is a parasite to some Owlet Moths, like the Dun-bar. The development from egg to adult is astonishing fast: in only ten days an egg produces an adult fly!