Trichopoda pennipes

Trichopoda pennipes gathering nectar of a wild parsnip in bloom. Pyrénées Orientales, France.

Trichopoda pennipes is a Tachinid Fly whose larvae parasitize of Southern green shield bugs (Nezara viridula) and other bugs of the same family. This Tachinid fly native to South and North America was introduced to Europe through organic farming to regulate the numbers of the Southern green shield bugs, an invasive species from Africa who really like greenhouses and vegetables (tomatoes, squash , soy... ).