Cryptomeigenia

Distinguished from other Blondeliini by genitalic characters and specific combinations of bristle patterns; species-level identification requires examination of male terminalia and facial coloration patterns. Cryptomeigenia aurifacies is noted for its golden facial coloration.

Agricultural plots and wooded areas where host scarab beetles occur; documented from southern San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico in association with Phyllophaga rufotestacea.

New World distribution; documented from Mexico (Chiapas), with species described from across North America including Illinois, Florida, and other regions.

Active during the flight period of host beetles; in Chiapas, observed from June to September, coinciding with adult beetle emergence.

• Phyllophaga (Phytalus) rufotestacea (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) - endoparasitoidadult stage only; host-specific at documented site
• Scarabaeidae (adult scarab beetles) - parasitoidgeneral host family per genus-level characterization

First three phases last 29-32 days under laboratory conditions. Female oviposits 1-45 eggs in abdominal cavity of adult host beetle. Multiple eggs per host, but only one larva survives through intraspecific competition and cannibalism, consuming other eggs and host viscera, causing host death.

Endoparasitoid of adult beetles; exhibits larval cannibalism where surviving larva consumes conspecific eggs and host internal tissues. Host-specific to P. rufotestacea at studied site despite presence of 15 other Melolonthidae species.

Biological control agent regulating populations of adult scarab beetles; parasitism rates of 25-27% in male hosts and 16% in female hosts documented in one population.

Potential biocontrol agent for pest scarab beetles in agricultural settings; no documented negative impacts to humans.

• Other Blondeliini generaSimilar tachinid parasitoids of beetles; distinguished by genitalic morphology and specific bristle patterns
• Other Tachinidae parasitoids of scarabsMay share hosts; Cryptomeigenia distinguished by specific abdominal oviposition and larval cannibalism behavior

• parasitoid
• tachinidae
• scarab beetle parasite
• biological control

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• CRYPTOMEIGENIA SP. (DIPTERA: TACHINIDAE) COMO PARASITOIDE DE ADULTOS DE PHYLLOPHAGA (PHYTALUS) RUFOTESTACEA (MOSER, 1918) (COLEOPTERA: MELOLONTHIDAE) EN CHIAPAS, MÉXICO