Uzi fly
| Uzi fly | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Tachinidae |
| Subfamily: | Exoristinae |
| Tribe: | Exoristini |
| Genus: | Exorista |
| Species: | E. sorbillans |
| Binomial name | |
| Exorista sorbillans (Wiedemann, 1830) | |
The Uzi fly (Exorista sorbillans) is a species of bristly fly in the family Tachinidae that is a parasitoid of caterpillars and is a problem for silkworm rearing in tropical regions of South and Southeast Asia.[1]
The species found in India, Exorista bombycis is sometimes synonmyised with this species, but is distinct from specimens obtained from the type locality, the Canary Islands.[2]
Uzi flies are a friend to agriculturists and a foe to sericulturists. The life span of adult males is about 5–15 days, adult females is about 20–25 days and alternate hosts can live 55 days. Its flight range is about 4 km. It gets attracted to rearing room due to kairomones, and it can locate host in 30 seconds. Its egg period is 2–3 days. Its larval period is 8 days, and pupal period is about 10–14 days. It attacks all the internal organs of silkworm except silkgland. Uzi flies lay their eggs on the silkworm caterpillar by piercing its skin.
References
- ↑ Chatterjee SN; T. Taraphdar and T. P. Mohandas (2005). "Molecular Analysis of Divergence in Tachinid Uzi (Exorista Sorbillans) Populations in India". Genetica. 125 (1): 1–15. doi:10.1007/s10709-004-6192-0. PMID 16175450.
- ↑ Narayanaswamy, T.K.; Govindan, R. (2000). "Mulberry silkworm ujifly, Exorista bombycis (Louis) (Diptera: Tachinidae)". Integrated Pest Management Reviews. 5 (4): 231. doi:10.1023/A:1012982030848.