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Tachinidae - subfamilies (in development)

Authors: Even Dankowicz, Arturo Santos

Last updated: February 2020

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Tachinidae

Phasiinae
Dexiinae
Exoristinae
Tachininae

According to the Taxonomic and host catalogue of the Tachinidae of America North of Mexico, there are no genera in the US/Canada unplaced to subfamily.

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Phasiinae

Bristles on the body often reduced
Often brightly colored, especially with orange
Many have vein M ending at vein R4+5 before the wing margin
Parafacial usually bare at least on lower half (except in Leucostoma)
Last section of CuA usually less than half as long as preceding section

Argentina, © RAP, iNaturalist / CC BY-NC

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Dexiinae

Many genera/species are distinctly patterned
Often appear to be long-legged
Sometimes possess a long proboscis
Dexiini almost always have the frontal bristles not descending below level of the base of the antennae, a pubescent or feathered arista, and very small antennae.
Voriini tend to be bristly, small, and shiny. Some members have both the last section of vein M4 distinctly as long as or longer than the preceding section and with an adventitious group of preapical bristles on the scutellum.

New York, © Even Dankowicz/ CC BY-NC

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Exoristinae

Bend of M obtuse or at a right angle (Exoristini)
Scutum with 3-4 post-sutural supra-alar bristles, the first usually at least as long and stout as first post-sutural dorsocentral bristle (except in Blondeliini and Exoristini).
Blondeliini usually have strong, divergent subapical bristles on the scutellum.
In some Goniini, the ocellar bristles are pointing towards the back or diverging towards the sides of the head. Otherwise, directed forward or absent.

Arizona, © Even Dankowicz / CC BY-NC

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Tachininae

Many genera/species distinctly patterned, but there is also a lot of convergent evolution in these colors and patterns.
Antennae often with a broad and large third segment
Ocellar bristles directed forward or absent
Scutum with 3-5 postsutural supra alar setae. If 3-4, only one anterior to largest bristles and this first bristle shorter and finer than the first postsutural dorsocentral bristle.

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References

Sources for this entire project include:

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References

Other sources consulted for this specific document include:

http://www.nadsdiptera.org/Tach/AboutTachs/TachOverview.html
Taxonomic and host catalogue of the Tachinidae of America North of Mexico, http://www.nadsdiptera.org/Tach/Nearctic/CatNAmer/Home/CatNAmerhome.html