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BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
 
Photos from the gathering
 
Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

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Genus Zelia

Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon (Calyptratae)
Superfamily Oestroidea
Family Tachinidae
Subfamily Dexiinae
Genus Zelia
Explanation of Names
Author of genus is Robineau-Desvoidy 1830. Zelia is from Greek, meaning zeal (Internet searches).
Numbers
Nearctica.com lists 12 or more species
Size
Circa 12 mm
Identification
See photos
Range
Includes eastern United States
Season
Summer
Life Cycle
Brimley, p. 367 (1), states that Zelia vertebrata parasitizes the "Betsy Beetle (Passalus cornutus)", which is now called Odontoaenius disjunctus.
Remarks
A rather wild-looking Tachinid, at least Z. vertebrata.
Internet References
North Carolina State University Entomology Collection lists four species from that sate, including the wild-looking Z. vertebrata (above)
Works Cited
1.Insects of North Carolina
By C.S. Brimley