Satellite-flies
Guides
Metopia
satellite flies
Metopia is a genus of kleptoparasitic flies in the family Sarcophagidae, subfamily Miltogramminae, commonly known as 'satellite flies.' The genus contains at least 50 described species. Adult females are known to follow solitary wasps back to their nest burrows, where they deposit live larvae at the entrance. These larvae then enter the burrow and parasitize the wasp larvae or their provisioned prey. This behavior has been documented with hosts including beewolves (Philanthus), thread-waisted wasps (Ammophila), and ant-queen kidnappers (Aphilanthops).