Tachinid Fly

Scientific Name: Tachinidae (family level identification)

Order & Family: Order: Diptera, Family: Tachinidae

Size: 2 mm to 20 mm (highly variable depending on the species)

Tachinid Fly

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in gardens, meadows, and forests where flowers and host insects are present.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on nectar and pollen; larvae are internal parasites (parasitoids) of other insects like caterpillars, beetles, and bugs.

Behavior Patterns

Diurnal insects that are active during the day. Females seek out host insects to lay eggs on or near them so that hatching larvae can burrow into the host and consume it.

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to humans. Highly beneficial to ecosystems and agriculture as they act as natural controllers of pest insect populations.

Identified on: 5/14/2026