Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Lasius ant queen victim of Tachinidae
Posted by khaleph on 02-06-2009 14:53
#1
Bonjour,
I'am an ant keeper from Québec city.
From time to time, me and other keeper have queen killed by parasites.
The most interesting is a fly that lays eggs in the abdomen of the queen.
The queen remains alive for several months before the pupa appears. I never observed it to leave the abdomen.
Here are some picture of that situation.
Edited by ChrisR on 02-06-2009 15:51
Posted by Gerard Pennards on 02-06-2009 15:36
#2
The fly is a Tachinid, so family Tachinidae.
Subfamily Phasiinae, and I think even in the genus Phasia!
Greetings
Posted by Rui Andrade on 02-06-2009 15:47
#3
Maybe Strongygaster sp.?
Posted by ChrisR on 02-06-2009 15:55
#4
Hmm, yes ... not Phasia, though the venation is similar. I think
Strongygaster is a good first guess, considering the host, and it is listed as a Nearctic genus :)
Posted by Zeegers on 02-06-2009 18:01
#5
Amazing job, excellent, Strongygaster it should be, only Tachinid from ants in the Palaearctic.
It is the only genus in Strongygasterini in the Nearctic catalogue. SO there can be little doubt
(and the best argument of course: it looks like a Strongygaster !)
Theo
Posted by ChrisR on 02-06-2009 18:43
#6
Jim O'Hara in Canada will be able to give a name if you send him the specimen and I'm sure he would be very interested in the host record too :)
Posted by khaleph on 02-06-2009 19:35
#7
Thanks for the answers.
I have send this morning an email about that to Jim O'Hara about that parasite.
If I have more informations after that, I will give it to you.