Tachina grossa

Taxobox
name = "Tachina grossa"
status =

---

image_caption = "Tachina grossa"
image_width = 200px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
subclassis = Pterygota
infraclassis = Neoptera
superordo = Endopterygota
ordo = Diptera
subordo = Brachycera
infraordo = Muscomorpha
zoosubsectio = Calyptratae
superfamilia = Oestroidea
familia = Tachinidae
subfamilia = Tachininae
tribus = Tachinini
genus = "Tachina"
subgenus = "Tachina"
species = "T. grossa"
binomial = "Tachina (Tachina) grossa"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)
synonyms = *"Musca grossa" Linnaeus, 1758

"Tachina grossa" or Giant Tachinid Fly is a very large tachinid fly found throughout most of Western Europe. At 15 - 19mm it is one of the largest species of fly throughout much of its range and is the largest Tachinid in Europe. It is very distinctive, being hairy and with a black thorax and abdomen, and a bright yellow head.

Like most tachinid flies, the female lays her eggs on other living insect larva, the fly larvae then develop inside the living host, devouring it and eventually killing it. Its main hosts are the large hairy Lepidopteran caterpillars, particularly the Oak eggar moth "Lasiocampa quercus" and "Macroth ylacia rubi".

In the UK their is usually only one generation per year, though in southern Europe there may be two generation per summer season, though this has not yet been verified. The adult flight period is from July to August. Habitat is dry open meadows, peat land, and heaths.