Tachinid Flies - the bane of my existence!

[notmyidea]

I collected 27 Lasius alienus Queens last summer.
I now have only 10!
I lost 5 for unknown reasons but the other dozen had this:




The Queens aren't dead yet....but the writing is on the wall

Then I saw a video from AntsCanada:
which explains it all.

These Queens are really tough. I only have two with eggs. I've been 3 for 4 with Formica Queens.

I kind of think these flies must know when nuptial flights are and wait for the Queens since I have such a high rate of this happening.

[Martialis]

Yikes! Sorry about that luck.

[xTNxANTMANx]

WOW! For some reason I m ew it had to be a fly of some sort. I have been a "bug nerd" since I was a kid but I gotta say, that's crazy you had that many infected. Nasty flies!!!

[jsantswag]

that is so weird! as soon as i saw you pictures i thought, oh no