Golden Tachinid Fly vs Sand Wasp Strepsipteran

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Golden Tachinid Fly Sand Wasp Strepsipteran
Scientific Name Archytas marmoratus Paraxenos lugubris
Order Diptera Strepsiptera
Family Tachinidae Xenidae
Size 10-14 mm 2.5-4.0 mm (males)
Habitat Farmland Beaches & Coastal
Diet Parasites Parasites
Regions North America, Central America Europe, Africa
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Golden Tachinid Fly

A large bristly parasitic fly with golden-brown hairs found across the Americas. It parasitizes armyworm and cutworm caterpillars in crops.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the most important natural enemies of fall armyworm in North American agriculture.

Sand Wasp Strepsipteran

A strepsipteran parasite of sand wasps in the genus Bembix. It is found in sandy coastal areas where its host wasps nest.

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Did You Know?

Parasitized sand wasps often have visibly protruding strepsipteran puparia between their abdominal segments.