About Tachina grossa (Linnaeus, 1758)
Tachina grossa (Linnaeus, 1758) reaches an adult body length of 15–19 millimetres, or 0.6–0.7 inches. Across most of its geographic range, this fly species is counted among the largest tachinids, and it is the largest tachinid found in Europe. This species is very easy to distinguish from related flies: it is covered in hair, with entirely black thorax and abdomen. When in flight, its appearance is similar to that of a bumblebee. Its abdomen is inflated and curved, completely black, and covered in stiff, straight bristles; these bristles are especially prominent at the ends of each abdominal segment. The fly’s head is a bright yellow color, and it has yellow bristles along its occiput. Its large compound eyes are dark brown. The forehead forms a sharp angle at the base of the antennae. The maxillary palpi are thin and filiform. Its wings are hyaline, with a yellowish-brown tint at the base. This species occurs across most of Western Europe, extending east through Asia to Mongolia. Its main habitats include dry open meadows, peatland, moors, forests, heaths, and gardens.
