Amobia

Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830

Amobia is a of satellite in the , Miltogramminae. These dipterans are obligate of solitary and , with females depositing directly into nests rather than laying . The genus occurs across multiple continents including Australia, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, with demonstrating specificity toward particular host such as eumenid wasps (Anterhynchium, Orancistrocerus) and various solitary bees and wasps.

Amobia by (c) Daniel Greenwood, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel Greenwood. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Amobia: /æˈmoʊ.bi.ə/

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Distribution

Australia ( including A. serpenta, A. auriceps, A. burnsi); Indian subcontinent (A. quatei); Japan (A. distorta); Europe (A. signata); North America (A. floridensis, A. erythrura); records from Denmark, Norway, Sweden. Species distributions are partially documented with new records continuing to emerge.

Host Associations

Anterhynchium flavomarginatum - Documented for A. distorta and A. quatei
Anterhynchium gibbifrons - Documented for A. distorta in Japan
Orancistrocerus drewseni - Documented for A. distorta
Monobia quadridens - A. erythrura consume stored for larva, starving it
Pachodynerus nasidens - A. floridensis documented as
Symmorphus spp. - documented as for Amobia
Sceliphron caementarium - Documented for Amobia
Trypoxylon politum - Documented for Australian Amobia
Various solitary bees (Apoidea) - General association documented

Behavior

Females exhibit kleptoparasitic by depositing directly into nests (larviposition), a characteristic trait of the Miltogramminae. The larvae then consume the food stores (paralyzed such as ) intended for the host's offspring, effectively starving the host larva. Host defensive behaviors include responses when approach nests. Spatial patterns show -dependent relationships: at low and parasitism rates, parasitism increases with host density, while at high parasitism rates the relationship becomes density-independent due to from high-density .

Ecological Role

Acts as a mortality agent for , particularly solitary and . Functions as a that exploits the provisioning efforts of , potentially influencing host and nest success rates. May contribute to regulation of solitary wasp and bee .

Similar Taxa

SenotainiaPhylogenetically sister to Amobia based on molecular analysis; both belong to Miltogramminae and share kleptoparasitic
MetopiaAnother in Miltogramminae with similar satellite and larviposition

More Details

Taxonomic history

The has undergone revision with integrated morphological and molecular approaches. A new , A. serpenta, was described from Australia in 2020. The proposed synonymisation of A. pelopei and A. auriceps has been refuted based on evidence.

Molecular phylogenetics

Phylogenetic analysis using COI, ND4, CYTB, and EF1α loci places Australian Amobia together with the Palaearctic A. signata in a clade sister to Senotainia.