This weekend I heard a buzzing noise in the kitchen at the window. At a quick glance I thought this was a bumblebee that had flown into the kitchen.
On closer inspection it seemed to resemble a bumblebee in appearance and size but appeared to be a very large Fly.
Now i have seen large bluebottle flies before but this fly was huge. its size was very similar to a bumblebee.
I have looked on the internet to see if i could find a picture of it to cross reference but have been unsuccessful.
If you can help identify this insect I would be grateful as i have never seen a fly this large in my life.
I took some pictures and released it back into the garden.
Regards Richard
2 comments:
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Tachina grossa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Tachinidae
Genus: Tachina
Subgenus: Tachina
Species: T. grossa
Binomial name
Tachina grossa
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
• Musca grossa Linnaeus, 1758
Tachina grossa or giant tachinid fly is a very large tachinid fly found throughout most of Western Europe. At 15–19 millimetres (0.6–0.7 in) it is one of the largest species of fly throughout much of its range and is the largest tachinid in Europe. It is very distinctive, being hairy and with a black thorax and abdomen, and a bright yellow head.
Like most tachinid flies, the female lays her eggs on other living insect larva, the fly larvae then develop inside the living host, devouring it and eventually killing it. Its main hosts are the large hairy Lepidopteran caterpillars, particularly the Oak eggar moth Lasiocampa quercus and Macrothylacia rubi.
In the UK there is usually only one generation per year, though in southern Europe there may be two generation per summer season, though this has not yet been verified. The adult flight period is from July to August. Habitat is dry open meadows, peat land, and heaths.
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