Colorado Bugs—-Hedgehog Fly

The Spiny Tachina Fly (Paradejeania rutilioides) or as it’s affectionately referred to by many entomologist, the hedgehog fly, is discovered all through western North America and into Central America.

These massive Bristle flies within the household Tachinidae measure as much as 3/4 ( or a bit extra) of an inch in size and are coated in bristly hairs giving them a superficial resemblance to hedgehogs, incomes them their widespread identify. General colour is black and pumpkin orange, wings are smoky coloured and bristles are black.

Our current journey to Georgetown and Idaho Springs, CO took us properly into the vary for this fly, that up till recognizing it close to Clear Creek, I had no thought existed. I have to admit I used to be shocked to see a tachinid fly this LARGE, it was big compared to the tachinid flies I’m used to seeing at dwelling in NW Missouri. If you’re an entomologists; skilled or beginner, and love pictures as properly, and are confronted with one thing this uncommon you nearly panic on the thought it is going to get away with out getting an excellent take a look at it or ideally an image of it! I hit PANIC mode as I did my finest stealth actions with a view to sneak a more in-depth look, solely to have it fly away to a different plant. This went on for fairly a while earlier than it lastly bought drained or gave up and determined I meant no actual risk. Then I observed two extra close by on the identical kind of crops. Every fly was nectaring on the shiny yellow flowers of groundsel. Domestically I now know these flies are quite common, however to an out-of-stater this was an thrilling discover!

This fly is a recognized parasitoid of the Edward’s Glassy-wing moth (Hemihyalea edwardsii). Females will hunt down the caterpillars of this species of moth and lay their eggs. When the eggs hatch they’ll feed on the caterpillar. Tachinid flies are wonderful at controlling troublesome bugs comparable to caterpillars, and stink bugs that feed on crops and different agricultural crops of financial significance. They’re additionally secondary pollinators. Their behavior of nectaring at flowers makes them wonderful transporters of pollen.

My good buddy Eric Eaton at Bug Eric
did a superb write-up about this species in addition to one other spikey-bottomed fly. Make sure you test it out.

I was lucky sufficient to seize a number of photographs of this species earlier than it grew to become too darkish to permit for respectable photographs. I by no means tire of discovering new-to-me distinctive bugs to watch, {photograph} and study.