BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)
TACHINIDAE (parasitoid flies)
| Formerly known as (synonyms) | Larvaevoridae |
| Notes (MWS) | A large family of bristly flies with often striking colouration. The tachinid life-cycle was famously the inspiration for Ridley Scott's "Alien" film! The larvae are internal parasitoids of other invertebrates, mostly insects, and especially Lepidoptera. Most species are restricted to a small number of host species which are either related or share the same ecology and gross morphology. The oviposition strategies are very varied from those which lay eggs and wait for the host larvae to find them (like Ridley Scott's Alien), to other species which retain the egg until it is about to hatch before inserting it into the body of the victim. The larva develops inside the growing host larva, feeding on non-essential organs. Finally the parasitoid larva becomes full grown and breaks out of the host which then usually dies. The larva pupariates and, after a suitable interval, the adult emerges. The adults visit flowers and include several large distinctive species which are very common in summer. |
Subtaxa
| Rank | Taxon |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|
| Subfamily | DEXIINAE (a subfamily of parasitoid flies) | 4 | ||||
| Tribe | Dufouriini (a tribe of parasitoid flies) | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Tribe | Voriini (a tribe of parasitoid flies) | 3 | 14 | 13 | 4 | |
| Subfamily | EXORISTINAE (a subfamily of parasitoid flies) | 12 | ||||
| Tribe | Blondeliini (a tribe of parasitoid flies) | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5 | |
| Tribe | Eryciini (a tribe of parasitoid flies) | 3 | 24 | 1 | 4 | |
| Tribe | Exoristini (a tribe of parasitoid flies) | 2 | 17 | 32 | 1 | |
| Tribe | Goniini (a tribe of parasitoid flies) | 4 | 9 | 2 | ||
| Subfamily | PHASIINAE (a subfamily of parasitoid flies) | 9 | ||||
| Tribe | Cylindromyiini (a tribe of parasitoid flies) | 1 | 46 | 1 | ||
| Tribe | Phasiini (a tribe of parasitoid flies) | 8 | 116 | 57 | 3 | 3 |
| Subfamily | TACHININAE (a subfamily of parasitoid fles) | 16 | ||||
| Tribe | Ernestiini (a tribe of parasitoid flies) | 3 | 8 | 4 | 21 | |
| Tribe | Linnaemyiini (a tribe of parasitoid flies) | 3 | 5 | 3 | ||
| Tribe | Macquartiini (a tribe of parasitoid flies) | 2 | 4 | 1 | ||
| Tribe | Microphthalmini (a tribe of parasitoid flies) | 1 | 5 | |||
| Tribe | Siphonini (a tribe of parasitoid flies) | 1 | 1 | 11 | 2 | |
| Tribe | Tachinini (a tribe of parasitoid flies) | 6 | 149 | 16 |
Suggested Literature
Identification Works
| Audcent, H., 1932 | Bristol insect fauna: Diptera (part 5) |
| Belshaw, R., 1993 | Tachinid Flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) |
| Tachinidae Recording Scheme: http://tachinidae.org.uk/ | Tachinidae Recording Scheme |
| van Emden, F.I., 1954 (The newer Belshaw key is much easier.) | Diptera: Cyclorrhapha Calyptrata (I) Sect (a) Tachinidae and Calliphoridae |
| Wainwright, C.J., 1928 | The British Tachinidae |
| Wainwright, C.J., 1932 | The British Tachinidae (Diptera) First Supplement |
| Wainwright, C.J., 1940 | The British Tachinidae (Diptera) Second Supplement |
BioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk)
has 37 general literature references to TACHINIDAE (parasitoid flies)
TACHINIDAE may also be covered by literature listed under:
|
BIOTA (living things) |
Eukaryota (eukaryotes) |
ANIMALIA (animals) |
ARTHROPODA (arthropods) |
INSECTA (insects) |
DIPTERA (two-winged flies) |
BioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk)
has 956 feeding and other relationships of TACHINIDAE (parasitoid flies)
