Tachinid Fly - Butterfly and Moth Parasitoid
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Tachinid Fly - Lepidoptera Parasitoid |
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Tachinid fly maggots grow inside butterfly and moth caterpillars and pupae. In our area, the tachinid fly maggots often leaves the J'ing caterpillar or pupa, trailing strings behind them. Moth pupae, in cocoons, are often parasitized by these flies. The maggot emerges and creates a little pupa. The adult tachinid fly will emerge later. |
Strings from caterpillar
Strings from pupa chrysalis
Maggots in caterpillar
Maggots in caterpillar
Maggot - tachinid fly
Tachinid Fly - Chalcid Wasps
Fly eating dead caterpillar
Dead Tachinid fly & pupae
Dead Tachinid fly w/ empty pupa
Dead Tachinid Fly
Fly near caterpillars
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Caterpillars can be protected by raising them inside a secure container. The mesh should be small as a window screen. If a caterpillar is brought in from the wild, it may already be parasitized. Eggs or maggots may be on food material. Plant material should be thoroughly washed and dried before adding it to the rearing container. Secure conatiners can be made with shoe boxes or other box or container. Make sure you provide some airflow! If you do not wish to make a rearing container, they can be purchased from Shady Oak Butterfly Farm from this webpage. |
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For permission to use any photo, please contact Edith Smith at Shady Oak Butterfly Farm.
Shady Oak Butterfly Farm Toll free 877-485-2458 12876 SW CR 231 Brooker, Fl 32622 Stephen & Edith Smith
Located 45 minutes from the Butterfly Rainforest Exhibit at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
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