Trichopoda pennipes (Fabricius, 1781) - a new tachinid fly (Diptera) for Malta

Abstract

Tachinidae is a diverse, cosmopolitan family of true flies currently with approximately 8,600 described species (O’Hara, 2013). Of these, about 900 have been found in Europe (Pape et al., 2015) and 61 species have been recorded for the Maltese archipelago (Ebejer, 2011). Tachinid larvae develop as endoparasitoids of other insects, although occasional records on other arthropods are also known (Stireman et al., 2006; Cerretti et al., 2014). Four subfamilies are traditionally recognised, namely: Dexiinae, Exoristinae, Phasiinae and Tachininae. With the exception of a few species belonging to one tribe (Strongygastrini), the Phasiinae are composed of species which attack true bugs (Heteroptera). The North American native Trichopoda pennipes is a parasitoid of Pentatomidae (Stink bugs) and Coreidae (Leaf-footed bugs) such as the green stink bug (Chinavia hilaris), the squash bug (Anasa tristis), the cactus coreid (Chelinidea vittiger) and Leptoglossus spp. (Arnaud, 1978). It is also known to parasitise the southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula) a species also known from the Maltese archipelago. The present note is to provide some information on Trichopoda pennipes which is here recorded for the first time from the Maltese Islands based on photographs taken by one of us (AD).