Tachinidae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tachinidae |
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Calyptratae
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Oestroidea
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Tachinidae
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Tachinidae is a large family of flies. There are over 8,200 different species in this family. About 1,300 of these species live in North America. These flies are often called tachina flies or tachinids.
You can find tachinid flies in almost every habitat around the world. They live in places like South America, North America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.
Contents
What Makes Tachinid Flies Special?
Tachinid flies are very interesting because of how they live. Most of them are parasitoids. This means that their young (larvae) live inside other insects. They use these other insects as a place to grow and get food.
Life Cycle of a Tachinid Fly
A female tachinid fly lays her eggs on or near another insect. This other insect is called the "host." The host can be a caterpillar, a beetle larva, or another type of insect.
When the eggs hatch, tiny tachinid larvae come out. These larvae then burrow into the host insect. They live inside the host, slowly eating it from the inside. Eventually, the host insect dies.
After the tachinid larva has grown enough, it leaves the dead host. It then turns into a pupa, which is like a cocoon. Inside the pupa, the larva changes into an adult fly. Finally, a new adult tachinid fly emerges, ready to start the cycle again.
Why Are Tachinid Flies Important?
Tachinid flies play a big role in nature. Because they kill other insects, they help control the populations of many pests. For example, some tachinid flies help farmers by attacking insects that eat crops. This makes them a natural way to keep harmful insects in check.
Some tachinid flies are also known for special abilities. For instance, one type of tachinid fly, Ormia ochracea, has amazing hearing. It can hear sounds very well, which helps it find its host insects.
Images for kids
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Tachinid eggs (possibly Trichopoda pennipes) on a western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis)
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An Istocheta aldrichi egg on a Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica)
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Ormia ochracea, a tachinid fly known for its excellent hearing
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See also
In Spanish: Taquínidos para niños
