Metopia

Meigen, 1803

satellite flies

Species Guides

2

Metopia is a of kleptoparasitic flies in the Sarcophagidae, Miltogramminae, commonly known as 'satellite flies.' The genus contains at least 50 described . females are known to follow solitary back to their nest burrows, where they deposit live larvae at the entrance. These larvae then enter the burrow and parasitize the wasp larvae or their provisioned prey. This has been documented with including beewolves (Philanthus), thread-waisted wasps (Ammophila), and ant-queen kidnappers (Aphilanthops).

Metopia sinipalpis by (c) Isaac Winkler, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Isaac Winkler. Used under a CC-BY license.Metopia sinipalpis by (c) Isaac Winkler, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Isaac Winkler. Used under a CC-BY license.Metopia sinipalpis by (c) Isaac Winkler, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Isaac Winkler. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Metopia: /mɛˈtoʊpiə/

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Images

Distribution

Records exist from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Vermont (USA), and other parts of the United States. The has a Holarctic distribution pattern.

Host Associations

  • Philanthus gibbosus - Female Metopia flies follow female beewolves back to nests and deposit larvae at the burrow entrance; larvae parasitize larvae
  • Ammophila procera - Metopia laterallis specifically recorded as ; female flies follow prey-laden female to burrows
  • Ammophila aberti - Satellite flies in Metopia are constant threat to parasitize nests
  • Aphilanthops frigidus - Metopia leucocephala observed loitering near nest , suspected
  • Aphilanthops hispidus - Metopia leucocephala and Euaraba tergata suspected of nests
  • Clitemnestra bipunctata - Metopia argyrocephala reported as ; female flies enter burrows and deposit live larvae that feed on paralyzed prey and destroy or larvae

Behavior

females exhibit kleptoparasitic by following female solitary back to their nest burrows. They deposit live larvae (larviposit) at the lip of the burrow entrance. The larvae then crawl down the tunnel and become of the wasp's larvae or their provisioned prey. This 'satellite' behavior—following the host from a distance rather than entering the nest directly—gives the group its .

Ecological Role

Metopia function as of solitary , particularly those in Crabronidae and Sphecidae. By parasitizing wasp larvae and their food stores, they exert control pressure on these predatory wasps. They represent one of several satellite fly (along with Senotainia and Hilarella) that exploit the nesting of solitary wasps.

Similar Taxa

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Sources and further reading