Tachina fera

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Description

Tachina fera is a large (9 to 16 mm) and bristly fly with a prominent broad black stripe down the centre of an otherwise orange abdomen.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Can often be seen in moist and well vegetated locations where it feeds on umbellifers and waterside plants.

When to see it

May to September.

Life History

Larvae are parasites of caterpillars and other young insects.

UK Status

Common and widespread in England and Wales.

VC55 Status

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

  • Graham Calow
    Granitethorpe Quarry, Sapcote
    06 September 2009
  • John Cranfield
    Stanford Reservoir
    20 August 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    23 June 2007
  • David Nicholls
    Nature Alive
    02 September 2010
  • Graham Calow
    Witherley
    27 May 2015
  • Graham Calow
    Witherley
    27 May 2015
    mating pair

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Species group:
Flies
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Tachinidae
Records on NatureSpot:
230
First record:
23/06/2007 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
14/10/2023 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • Graham Calow
    Witherley
    27 May 2015
  • Graham Calow
    Witherley
    27 May 2015
  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    31 August 2013
  • David Nicholls
    20 Acre Piece NR
    28 May 2010
  • David Nicholls
    Narborough Bog
    02 May 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Wirlybones Wood, Ratby
    17 June 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Croft Hill
    29 September 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby
    24 June 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Watermead Country Park
    06 September 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Nature Alive
    02 September 2010
  • Hazel Graves
    Loughborough Garden
    28 July 2023
  • egaten
    Thurlaston garden
    01 August 2023
  • David Nicholls
    Abbey Park
    19 September 2010
  • egaten
    Thurlaston garden
    01 August 2022
  • egaten
    Thurlaston garden
    15 August 2021