Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Zambia Tachinidae - Drino?
#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
Zeegers on 27-02-2016 09:14
#3
From the Afrotropics, I'd really need the material on my desk to get a reliable ID.
Theo
#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...
#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."
#6
It sounds much more inviting in computer games than in Tachinids...
Posted by
Zeegers on 28-02-2016 18:52
#7
Will, I understand you cannot argue with the logic of officials, but the " possibly dangerous" statement is of course absurd.
Theo
#8
While I would hate to underestimate the pettiness of customs officers, I was actually joking in the 'hazardous to health' comment...