Featured photograph of the day
I'm beginning to think I need to start a new feature "the bug of the week," haha. Today I snapped this photo with my phone of this curious white faced black 'bee.' To me it looked like a bumble bee but not. After posting it on social media it appears it might be a Black Tachinid Fly. I was hoping I discovered a new bee that would then be named after me. No such luck.
By all accounts I found these are pretty good to have around, unless youre a leaf damaging caterpillar. This fly actually lays its eggs on or inside certain catepillars and the larvae eat the host until full grown. Yikes.
This one seemed to like flowering Apple Mint. To learn more about the fly visit https://wimastergardener.org/article/tachinid-flies/
By all accounts I found these are pretty good to have around, unless youre a leaf damaging caterpillar. This fly actually lays its eggs on or inside certain catepillars and the larvae eat the host until full grown. Yikes.
This one seemed to like flowering Apple Mint. To learn more about the fly visit https://wimastergardener.org/article/tachinid-flies/
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