Trichopoda | |
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Trichopoda pennipes | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Family: | Tachinidae |
Subfamily: | Phasiinae |
Tribe: | Trichopodini |
Genus: | Trichopoda Berthold, 1827 |
Species | |
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Trichopoda is a genus of tachinid flies, commonly known as the feather-legged flies or hairy-legged flies. The name comes from Greek, Tricho meaning hair and poda meaning foot. They are small, brightly-coloured flies that congregate on flowers, feeding on nectar. The vestigial hind wings are covered with yellow scales and there is a fringe of hairs on the hind legs. The larvae are parasitoids of true bugs in the order Hemiptera, including stink bugs and squash bugs in the family Pentatomidae and leaf-footed bugs in the family Coreidae.[2][3] They are found in North and South America.