Tachinidae is a diverse, cosmopolitan family of true flies currently with approximately 8,600
described species (O’Hara, 2013). Of these, about 900 have been found in Europe (Pape et al.,
2015) and 61 species have been recorded for the Maltese archipelago (Ebejer, 2011). Tachinid
larvae develop as endoparasitoids of other insects, although occasional records on other arthropods
are also known (Stireman et al., 2006; Cerretti et al., 2014). Four subfamilies are traditionally
recognised, namely: Dexiinae, Exoristinae, Phasiinae and Tachininae. With the exception of a few
species belonging to one tribe (Strongygastrini), the Phasiinae are composed of species which
attack true bugs (Heteroptera). The North American native Trichopoda pennipes is a parasitoid of
Pentatomidae (Stink bugs) and Coreidae (Leaf-footed bugs) such as the green stink bug (Chinavia
hilaris), the squash bug (Anasa tristis), the cactus coreid (Chelinidea vittiger) and Leptoglossus
spp. (Arnaud, 1978). It is also known to parasitise the southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula) a
species also known from the Maltese archipelago. The present note is to provide some information
on Trichopoda pennipes which is here recorded for the first time from the Maltese Islands based on
photographs taken by one of us (AD).peer-reviewe