THE IMMATURE STAGES AND AFFINITIES OF THE TACHINID FLY GLAUROCARA FLAVA, A PARASITE OF THE AFRICAN BUSH-CRICKET HOMOROCORYPHUS NITIDULUS VICINUS

Observations are given on the parasitism of Homorocoryphus nitidulus vicinus (Walker) by the African tachinid fly Glaurocara flava Thomson, and the hitherto unknown immature stages of G. flava are described and illustrated. The female of G. flava is shown to be larviparous, producing abundant highly specialised planidium larvae very closely resembling those of the little-known tribe Ormiini. The systematic affinities of Glaurocara are briefly discussed and it is suggested, in view of the reproductive habits and the structure of the first instar larvae, that this genus must be very close phylogenetically to the Ormiine Tachinidae.