Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Zambia Tachinidae - Drino?
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 26-02-2016 11:44
#1
Tachinid from farmland to the west of Serenje town, close to the Zambia/D.R.C. border; although the different positions of the antennae give me pause, I did initially think that these were the same individual fly.
Drino, perhaps?
Amongst Soybean crop, 2nd February 2016. Most abundant caterpillars were
Helicoverpa and
Spodoptera.
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 26-02-2016 11:45
#2
pic 2
Posted by Zeegers on 27-02-2016 10:14
#3
From the Afrotropics, I'd really need the material on my desk to get a reliable ID.
Theo
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 27-02-2016 20:13
#4
They seem to be the common Tachy in Soy this year, so I'm sure I'll come across some dopey, easy to overcome ones in-field soon enough; I'll let you know if/when that happens.
Although given the agrochemicals that farms in the Afrotropics are happy to use, it might be considered hazardous to human health to post them...
Posted by John Carr on 27-02-2016 21:52
#5
Old American literature refers to this group -- Exoristinae with no distinctive features -- as the "vast central mass" of family Tachinidae. It reminds me of an old computer game which would tell the player "you are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike."
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 28-02-2016 00:10
#6
It sounds much more inviting in computer games than in Tachinids...
Posted by Zeegers on 28-02-2016 19:52
#7
Will, I understand you cannot argue with the logic of officials, but the " possibly dangerous" statement is of course absurd.
Theo
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 28-02-2016 22:00
#8
While I would hate to underestimate the pettiness of customs officers, I was actually joking in the 'hazardous to health' comment...