Description
English: T. grossa
Date September 2007, Genova, Italy
Source Own work
Author Hectonichus https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Hectonichus
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tachinidae_-_Tachina_grossa-1.JPG

Tachina grossa or giant tachinid fly is a very large tachinid fly found throughout most of Western Europe. At 15–19 millimetres (0.6–0.7 in) 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 Macrothylacia rubi. Order: Diptera, Family: Tachinidae, Synonyms: Musca grossa Linnaeus, 1758.