Phorid
Guides
Apocephalus
ant-decapitating flies, scuttle flies (informal)
Apocephalus is a genus of phorid flies comprising at least 300 described species, commonly known as ant-decapitating flies. Species within this genus are primarily parasitoids of ants, with females laying eggs in hosts that subsequently develop into larvae that consume the host from within, often resulting in host decapitation. The genus has gained particular attention due to Apocephalus borealis, which parasitizes honey bees and causes aberrant nocturnal behavior leading to hive abandonment. Several species groups have been taxonomically revised, including the mucronatus group and subgenus Mesophora, with numerous new species described in recent decades.
Megaselia aurea
scuttle fly
Megaselia aurea is a species of scuttle fly in the family Phoridae, one of thousands of species within the hyperdiverse genus Megaselia. Adults are very small, measuring 1–3 millimeters in length, with a characteristic humped thorax. The species exhibits distinctive mating behavior where females aggregate on leaves. Larvae develop in damp, decaying organic matter.
Rhyncophoromyia conica
Rhyncophoromyia conica is a species of scuttle fly in the family Phoridae, subfamily Metopininae. It was described by Malloch in 1912. As with most phorid flies, detailed biological information is limited. The genus Rhyncophoromyia is part of a diverse family of small flies commonly associated with decaying organic matter and various host relationships.