Pests > Pests Entities > Insects > Flies > Hermetia sp., (possibly), St Lucia



Pests > Pests Entities > Insects > Flies > Hermetia sp., (possibly), St Lucia

Pests Pests Entities Insects Flies Hermetia sp., (possibly), St Lucia

Hermetia sp., St Lucia

July 2008. The larvae were found at the base of an Erythrina tree in St Lucia. What is?

One member replied that it may be the larvae of a Dipteran, possibly Fam. Syrphidae (hoverfly) or Fam. Tipulidae – crane flies. The small segments at one end are typical of the tipulid group. The adults are the large legged, very delicate flies, often dark in colour, forewings out laterally (90o) flat from the body when at rest, ie, not over the back of the fly. The larvae may be free living and predatory (particularly good aphid predators). some species are found in wet soils and are possibly detritus feeders

Others thought they were Stratiomyiidae (Diptera)- possibly Hermetia – larvae that feed in decaying matter. Was there compost material around the tree?