Peter Dexter
Well-known member
This is a species of Tachinid fly. Couldn't tell you which one as there are over 8000. At the larval stage they are parasitic entering the bodies of other insects such as caterpillars and slowly consuming them. Interestingly, like the Hawk wasp larva and paralyzed tarantula they avoid the critical organs until the end so the host will last as long as possible. I wonder if Hollywood can come up with a scarier script.
Gardeners are quite fond of these flies as they get rid of many garden pests... like caterpillars
Gardeners are quite fond of these flies as they get rid of many garden pests... like caterpillars