David Element
Wildlife
Photography
and Digital
Video Images
__________________________ Flies 5 - Conopid Flies

Leopoldius signatus

Conops quadrifasciata

Physocephala
rufipes

Myopa fasciata
- Conopid flies
are endoparasites of bumblebees and other species of
aculeate hymenopterans. The female conopid grabs a
suitable host and injects a single egg. The larva eats
the non-essential organs and otherwise hijacks the
tissues of the unfortunate host prior to pupation. A
detailed account of the fascinating life-history is given
in an article by David Clements, the national organiser
of the British Conopid Recording Scheme,
in "British Wildlife"
Volume 8, Number 5 June 1997. There are
24 British conopid species.
With thanks to Jeremy Early, David Baldock and Graham
Collins for confirming some of these identifications.
-> Flies 1
-> Flies 2
-> Flies 3
-> Flies
4
-> Flies
6
-> Flies
7
-> Flies
8
-> Flies
9
-> Flies
10
-> Flies
11
-> Flies 12
-> Flies
13
-> Flies
14
-> Flies
15
-> Flies
16
-> Flies
17
-> Flies
18
-> Flies
19
-> Flies
20
-> Index,
Common Names
-> Index,
Scientific Names
-> Site Index
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© David
Element.