The heath small-palp (Linnaemya vulpina) is a 10–11 mm European tachinid fly easily identified by its reduced palps and prominent body bristles. These bristles act as armor and navigation sensors, detecting air vibrations and pressure changes. Adults spend their days sipping nectar on tall umbellifer flowers like hogweed, wild angelica, and wild parsnip. Beneath this innocent routine lies a grim life cycle: females hunt owlet moth caterpillars (Noctuidae), gluing eggs directly to their skin. Upon hatching, larvae bore inside with specialized mouth-hooks, eating non-essential fat and haemolymph first to keep the host alive before devouring its vital organs to pupate. I spotted this fascinating—if slightly repulsive—fly while walking near Akalla and Järfälla, Sweden.