Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Tachinidae (parasitoid of Acronicta rumicis)
Posted by Rui Andrade on 17-10-2008 03:02
#1
On the last 29th of September, I found a dead larva of Acronicta rumicis. It was parasitized by braconid wasps (I think). Luckily, I didn't throw away the dead larva, and today a tachinid emerged. Its pupa was inside the lepidopteran larva's body.
location: Barcelos, Portugal
Posted by Zeegers on 17-10-2008 10:34
#2
The classcial Tachinid for Acronicta is Nilea hortulana, but this is something different. Eyes bare.
Somehow, it looks more like Exorista, in which case it is a male rustica or similar species (genitalia needed).
Theo
Posted by Jaakko on 17-10-2008 12:35
#3
Nice!
Fold in the m-vein bend, white hairs behind the head and frontal bristles reaching fairly down indicate indeed
Exorista.
E. rustica should be a parasitoid of Symphyta and this guys pruinosity is quite whitish. If it has 4 dc, then its likely
larvarum (based on the biotope), although some Southern species can not be excluded. Difficult genus and the Mitteleuropas key is not very good distinguishing these. For example Finnish specimens of
fasciata key out as
larvarum so investigation of genitalia is needed.
Jaakko
Posted by Rui Andrade on 17-10-2008 14:03
#4
Thank you Theo and Jaakko for your help;).