Hymenoptera-associate
Guides
Leucophora
satellite flies, root-maggot flies
Leucophora is a genus of kleptoparasitic flies in the family Anthomyiidae, comprising approximately 60 described species with worldwide distribution except Oceania. Species are commonly known as 'satellite flies' due to their habit of hovering near host nests. The genus is associated with bees and solitary wasps, with females shadowing hosts to locate nest entrances for oviposition. Larvae are parasitic on host brood. Several species are notoriously difficult to distinguish based on external morphology alone.