Archytas apicifer is a medium to large sized (approximately 10-15 mm) Nearctic tachinid fly. The species name was authored by the German entomologist Johann Friedrich Jaennicke (1867) and presumably named after the Greek classical philosopher and mathematician Archytas. The larvae are parasites of several caterpillar species.
| Archytas apicifer | |
|---|---|
| |
| Archytas sp. resting on flowers. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Tachinidae |
| Subfamily: | Tachininae |
| Tribe: | Tachinini |
| Genus: | Archytas |
| Species: | A. apicifer
|
| Binomial name | |
| Archytas apicifer | |
| Synonyms | |
Behavior and morphology edit
The family Tachinidae is considered the second-largest in terms of number of species among all the diverse families of Diptera (two-winged true flies).[3] There are about 10,000 species worldwide. Many tachinid flies are economically important parasites of other arthropods. Several genera are robust and brightly patterned and many possess conspicuous bristles on the head or on the 4th to 6th abdominal segments.
Diet edit
Archytas apicifer adults feed on flower nectar, and are also known to be pollinators of some flowers.[4] Like many other tachinid flies, A. apicifer larvae are internal parasitoids of the Forest tent caterpillars and fall webworms in addition to the tomato fruitworm, corn earworm, and cutworms.[5]
Distribution edit
Canada, United States, Dominican Republic, Saint Vincent, El Salvador, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador.[6]
References edit
- ^ a b Walker, F. (1849). List of the specimens of dipterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part IV. London: British Museum. pp. [3] + 689-1172 + [2]. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ Curran, C.H. (1928). "Revision of the American species of Archytas (Tachinidae, Diptera) [part]". The Canadian Entomologist. 60: 201–208.
- ^ "Family Tachinidae - Parasitic Flies". Bugguide.net.
- ^ B. Elwood Montgomery. "The Anthophilous Insects of Indiana : A Preliminary List of the Dipteral Collected from Blossoms". Journals.iupui.edu. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ Paul Henri Arnaud; United States. Science and Education Administration; California Academy of Sciences (1978). A Host-parasite Catalog of North American Tachinidae (Diptera). Department of Agriculture, Science and Education Administration. pp. 677–.
- ^ O’Hara, James E.; Henderson, Shannon J.; Wood, D. Monty (5 March 2020). "Preliminary Checklist of the Tachinidae (Diptera) of the World" (PDF). Tachinidae Resources. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
External links edit
- "Family Tachinidae - Tachinid Flies". Cirrusimage.ocm. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- "Search". Bugguide.net. Retrieved 30 March 2022.