Metopia

Meigen, 1803

satellite flies

Metopia is a of kleptoparasitic in the , 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 live at the entrance. These larvae then enter the burrow and parasitize the wasp larvae or their provisioned . This has been documented with including beewolves (Philanthus), thread-waisted wasps (Ammophila), and - kidnappers (Aphilanthops).

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 follow female beewolves back to nests and at the burrow entrance; larvae parasitize larvae
Ammophila procera - Metopia laterallis specifically recorded as ; female follow -laden female to burrows
Ammophila aberti - Satellite 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 enter burrows and live that feed on paralyzed and destroy or larvae

Behavior

females exhibit kleptoparasitic by following female solitary back to their nest burrows. They live (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 . 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 . By parasitizing wasp and their food stores, they exert control pressure on these predatory wasps. They represent one of several satellite (along with Senotainia and Hilarella) that exploit the nesting of solitary wasps.

Similar Taxa

SenotainiaBoth are satellite in (Miltogramminae) that parasitize solitary ; Senotainia vigilans specifically recorded with Ammophila procera alongside Metopia laterallis
HilarellaAnother satellite in same with similar kleptoparasitic lifestyle targeting solitary
AmobiaSatellite in same that parasitize mud dauber (Sceliphron); historically treated as related or synonymous with Metopia in some