Morphologically-cryptic

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.

  • Ophion idoneus

    Ophion idoneus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Ophioninae, first described by Viereck in 1905. Like other members of the genus Ophion, it belongs to a morphologically challenging group of parasitoid wasps that have historically been difficult to distinguish from related species. The species is known from western Canada, with records from Alberta and British Columbia. Ophion wasps are nocturnal and frequently attracted to artificial lights.