Decapitating phorid flies

in Ants, bees, wasps Flies — January 20, 2012 8:40 am | no comments

Female phorid flies lay eggs inside fire ants.  The egg grows into a larva inside the fire ant and eventually moves to the fire ant’s head, where it eats the fire ant’s “brain.” Eventually the fly larva makes the  fire ant’s head fall off, hatches into a baby fly and leaves the fire ant’s head.  Read more about phorid flies and other natural enemies of fire ants at eXtension.org.

Related

USDA-ARS, “Attack of the Phorids” [VIDEO], USDA-ARS

 

Tags: biological control decapitating flies fire ants flies natural enemies of fire ants phorid flies pseudacteon