Metopia argyrocephala

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Metopia argyrocephala
Metopia argyrocephala, male

Metopia argyrocephala , male

Systematics
Order : Fly (Diptera)
Subordination : Flies (Brachycera)
Family : Meat flies (Sarcophagidae)
Subfamily : Miltogramminae
Genre : Metopia
Type : Metopia argyrocephala
Scientific name
Metopia argyrocephala
( Meigen , 1824)

Metopia argyrocephala is a species in the subfamily Miltogramminae within the family of meat flies (Sarcophagidae).

features

The flies are 4.5–7.5 mm long. When viewed from above, the males of Metopia argyrocephala have a conspicuous protruding silver-white fron . This is missing in the females. Several black longitudinal lines run across the gray thorax . The abdomen is gray-black in color.

distribution

The species is widespread in the Holarctic , the Neotropical and the Oriental .

Way of life

Metopia argyrocephala is often found in sandy areas with psammophilic vegetation such as inland dunes . The species is considered a kleptoparasite of representatives from the superfamily Apoidea and the family of the wasps (Pompilidae). In particular, digger wasps from the Sphecidae family and the lead-gray wasp ( Pompilus cinereus ) are parasitized. Like all meat flies, Metopia argyrocephala is ovoviviparous . This means that the larvae hatch inside the uterus of the female and are held there in the first larval stage until a suitable host is found. The females of Metopia argyrocephala look for ground nests of special digger wasps and wasps . If these are already equipped with provisions, the female places a larva in the ground nest (larva position). The Made begins immediately with the active search for food. The host's wasp's egg is usually eaten first and then the accompanying provisions. Depending on the wasp species, this consists of captured spiders or special insects.

Taxonomy

The following synonyms can be found in the literature :

  • Tachina argyrocephala Meigen , 1824

etymology

The name addition is derived from the Greek: argyro for "silver" and cephala for "head".

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Metopia argyrocephala . www.commanster.eu. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  2. ↑ a b c d Krzysztof Szpila, Thomas Pape: Comparative morphology of the first instar of three species of Metopia Meigen (Diptera: Sarcophagidae, Miltogramminae) (PDF, 1.23 MB) Acta Zoologica (Stockholm), 86: 119-134. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  3. ↑ Metopia argyrocephala . www.bioinfo.org.uk. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  4. ↑ a b Featured Creatures - Sarcophaga crassipalpis . University of Florida, UF / IFAS. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  5. ↑ Metopia argyrocephala at Fauna Europaea. Retrieved July 21, 2018

Web links

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