Myopa dorsalis

Myopa dorsalis
Myopa dorsalis. Side view
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Conopidae
Subfamily:	Myopinae
Tribe:	Myopini
Genus:	Myopa
Species:	M. dorsalis
Binomial name
Myopa dorsalis Fabricius, 1794
Synonyms
Conops testacea Gmelin, 1790 Myopa grandis Meigen, 1804 Myopa nigrifacies Becker, 1922 Purpurella nobilis Robineau-Desvoidy, 1853

Myopa dorsalis is a species belonging to the family Conopidae subfamily Myopinae.

Distribution

Myopa dorsalis is present in most of Europe (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, The Netherlands and in Switzerland). This species can also be found from North Africa to India and in Iran.

Description

Myopa dorsalis on Phyteuma orbiculare

Myopa dorsalis can reach a length of 11.5–15 millimetres (0.45–0.59 in). This fly is one of the biggest European conopids and it is not a very common insect, likewise almost all conopids. The body is mainly reddish-brown, mesonotum is black, while scutellum is reddish. The head is quite large and inflated-looking, with a kind of bubble at the front and short antennae, the snout is elongated with narrow white cheeks. The large eyes are reddish. The abdomen is reddish brown and it is usually folded forward when the fly is in resting position. Tergites 4 and 5 are largely dusted. Legs are completely yellowish brown. Wings are hyaline, without black markings. It can be distinguished from Sicus species by its longer cheeks.

Biology

The adults can be encountered feeding on nectar of many species of flowering plants. Their larvae are endoparasites of Hymenoptera aculeata.

References

• Smith, K. G. V. (1969) - Diptera: Conopidae - Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects