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Hello,

Yesterday evening I saw about 5 pieces of this Tachinidae which was laying eggs on caterpillars of Thaumetopoea processionea.
Unfortunately it was getting dark so the picture is of poor quality. I had not much time because there were about a million of these caterpillars with their stinging hairs.

Regards, Arno

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Great photos - I have no idea but I am sure Theo will be able to contribute :) Do you have any more photos showing the egg-laying behaviour?

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Hello Chris,

I don't have any pictures showing the egg-laying behaviour. The caterpillar was shaking his body and seemed to attack the Tachinidae-fly. I'll wait for Theo.:)

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Hi Arno

It clearly looks like a Phorocera. Two common species, but no longer active end of June. And one pretty rare species, reared from Thaumetopoea: Ph. grandis.
Never found outside the dune area (yes, I know, no Thaumetopoea there, it is also present in this other nasty thing Euproctis).

But I can't be 100 % sure. Did you collect any ??

Would be very interesting record .

(now I notice: 3 post DC. It really must be Phorocera)

Theo

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Hi Theo,

I didn't collect any, tomorrow I will go back and try to catch one. I will let you know. Thanks so far.

Arno

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Thanks

and be careful with those Thaumetopoea bastards


Theo

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I went back with Frans Smit, we caught one female and I sent it to Theo.
Yesterday Theo Zeegers sent me the news that this fly is Phorocera grandis indeed.
Many thanks to Frans for helping me catching this fly between al those Thaumetopoea bastards what was not easy.
And also many thanks to Theo for the determination of this species.

Greetings, Arno