Myopa dorsalis

Myopa dorsalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Conopidae
Genus:	Myopa
Species:	M. dorsalis
Binomial name
Myopa dorsalis Fabricius, 1794

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

Myopa dorsalis is mainly present in Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy and in Switzerland.

Myopa dorsalis on Phyteuma orbiculare

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, 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. It can be distinguished from Sicus species by its longer cheeks.

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
• Mark van Veen - Myopa Keys

External links

• Biolib
• Fauna Europaea