Common Stiletto Fly vs Cinnamon Tachinid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Common Stiletto Fly Cinnamon Tachinid
Scientific Name Thereva nobilitata Adejeania vexatrix
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Therevidae Tachinidae
Size 8-12 mm 12-16 mm
Habitat Heathland Grasslands
Diet Herbivores Parasitoids
Regions Europe North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Common Stiletto Fly

A slender, densely hairy fly with a pointed abdomen and silvery-white body hairs. Adults bask on sunlit leaves and bare ground, making short rapid flights when approached.

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Did You Know?

Stiletto fly larvae are important biological control agents, feeding on root-eating pest larvae in sandy soils.

Cinnamon Tachinid

A large, robust tachinid fly with reddish-brown coloring and prominent bristles. It is a common parasitoid of armyworm caterpillars in western North American grasslands.

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Did You Know?

It is considered one of the most important natural enemies of armyworm outbreaks in North American rangelands.