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Tachina Fly

With their bright orange abdomen, Tachina flies stand out on daisies and even goldenrod. They are very serious nectar gatherers. I only see them flying solo.

The definition of Tachinids is: Any of several bristly, usually grayish dipterous flies of the family Tachinidae, the larvae of which are parasitic on caterpillars and other insects. Also called tachinid.

Tachina flies are in the order Diptera meaning two wings. The hind wings of Diptera appear vestigial but actually have function. They are called the halteres and do flap rapidly. They are thought to be important for maintaining flight stability.

 

Diptera - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly

Halteres - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halteres

Halteres - www.amentsoc.org/insects/glossary/terms/haltere

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Uploaded on March 11, 2010
Taken on November 3, 2009