*This is an excerpt from Top 10 Most Wanted Bugs in Your Garden, ANR-2283.
Aliases: feather-legged fly
Wanted For: Attacking unsuspecting caterpillars and beetles.
Family History: Disguised as a hairy housefly, this parasitic insect lays its eggs on caterpillars, grubs, and other insects. When the eggs hatch, the larvae tunnel into their victims and eat them.
Sightings: Adults are often seen stealing the nectar and pollen of tansy, milkweed, and Queen Anne’s lace.
Mike McQueen, Regional Extension Agent, Home Grounds, Gardens and Home Pests; Charles Ray, Research Fellow, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University; and Kerry Smith, State Master Gardener Program Coordinator, Auburn University
Reviewed November 2021, Top 10 Most Wanted Bugs in Your Garden, ANR-2283
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