Tachinid Parasite Identification

TACHINID PARASITES

Contents

Fact Sheet (requires Acrobat Reader 3.x or above to read and print. Click below to download the free "Reader".)

	Parasite populations may lag behind those of the prey, which may result in large numbers of pests being present before sufficient numbers of parasites are present to control pest populations. Nevertheless, parasites are important regulating factors of pests in mint. Parasitized insects may be conspicuous enough to be observed in the field - usually swollen or immobile. If the parasite has matured, the host may be covered with tiny cocoons or it may be hollow. It is important to look for parasitized insects when fields are being routinely sampled for pest insects. If a large number of parasitized insects are found, it may not be necessary to treat with an insecticide.
Tachinid Parasite Adults	Tachinid Parasite Eggs
	Adults are 6 to 14 mm long and bee-like in appearance. Most are dark brown or black and marked with contrasting areas of tan, red, yellow, gold, or orange. The body is covered with long bristly hairs. Larvae are maggot-like, white, and may be marked with bands of spines, which encircle the body segments. Most tachinids overwinter as pupae in the soil. Adults emerge in the spring and deposit eggs or first-stage larvae in or on the prey. Adults emerge about 2 to 3 weeks later and deposit eggs for a second generation. There are usually 2 to 3 overlapping generations each year.
Tachinid Parasite Larvae on Prey	View the Fact Sheet for More Information

This section contains information on the identification of tachinid parasites. The Fact Sheet contains specific information on identifcation and biology of these parasites (requires Acrobat Reader).