Trichopoda Pennipes on Cucurbit Crops
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Trichopoda pennipes is a fly that parasitizes the squash bug. It lays one or more eggs on the outside of large nymph and adult squash bugs. Upon hatching, the fly larva burrows into the squash bug and eventually kills it. The fly larva exits the squash bug to pupate in the soil. This fly can also attack other true bugs. This insect is a naturally occurring squash bug enemy common across the state.
Trichopoda pennipes fly.
(Photo: Ric Bessin, University of Kentucky)
