siphona

Siphona is a genus of flies in the family Tachinidae, order Diptera. The genus was first described by Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1804. Members of Siphona are parasitoids, with larvae that develop inside other insects, most commonly caterpillars (Lepidoptera) but also occasionally other larval hosts. This parasitoid lifestyle means that the larval stage consumes the host from within, typically resulting in the host’s death.

Adults of Siphona are typically medium-sized, with a robust, bristly body. Coloration varies across species, ranging from dark gray to black, and many species exhibit subtle banding or patterns that aid in field identification. Like other tachinids, adults feed on nectar and pollen and are often found on flowers or in habitats where their hosts occur.

Biology and ecology vary among species, but the general life cycle involves the female depositing eggs or larvae on or near suitable hosts or their food plants. When the egg hatches or the larva is deposited, the larva enters or attaches to the host and develops internally, eventually emerging to pupate in the environment. Tachinid flies are considered important natural enemies of pest insects, and some Siphona species have been noted in biological control discussions, though they are not as widely used as other tachinids in pest management.

Distribution is broad, with Siphona species recorded across temperate regions, including the Palearctic and Nearctic zones, and in some cases extending into other biogeographic regions. The exact range and species composition vary by region and taxonomic treatment. Taxonomic placement within Tachinidae has sometimes varied in classifications, reflecting ongoing revisions in the family.

See also Tachinidae. References include world catalogs and taxonomic revisions of the genus.