Japanese Beetle Tachinid vs Golden-belted Tachinid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Beetle Tachinid Golden-belted Tachinid
Scientific Name Istocheta aldrichi Ectophasia crassipennis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Tachinidae Tachinidae
Size 5-7 mm 6-10 mm
Habitat Orchards Underground
Diet Parasites Parasites
Regions North America, Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Japanese Beetle Tachinid

A parasitic fly introduced from Japan to North America specifically for Japanese beetle control. Females lay eggs on the beetle's thorax.

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Did You Know?

White eggs visible on a Japanese beetle's thorax are a telltale sign of parasitism by this fly.

Golden-belted Tachinid

A colorful parasitic fly with golden-yellow markings and dark wing patches. Parasitizes shieldbugs and stink bugs. Often seen on umbellifer flowers.

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Did You Know?

The conspicuous wing markings may be involved in mating displays among the otherwise cryptic tachinid flies.