The family Tachinidae contains many large and hairy flies, some resembling bees. Their larvae parasitize other insects and, as a result, are very important in controlling the abundance of pest species. The female fly lays one or more eggs on the surface of the insect host. The larvae then burrows inside of the body cavity and eats the host from the inside-out. Amazingly, the larvae is able to eat almost all of the host tissues without killing it. It is only when the larvae is ready to crawl out of the host body that the host dies.

The Coal Oil Point collection contains eleven morphospecies of Tachnid flies.

Tachind Fly Photos (click to enlarge)
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