Exoprosopa

Exoprosopa is a large cosmopolitan genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae (bee-flies), with over 325 described species.^[2] The genus parasitizes a wide range of insects, including locust and larvae of wasps.

Exoprosopa
Exoprosopa italica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Bombyliidae
Tribe:	Exoprosopini
Genus:	Exoprosopa Macquart, 1840
Type species
Bibio capucina Fabricius, 1781
Synonyms
Litorhynchus Macquart, 1840 Trinaria Mulsant, 1852 Argyrospila Rondani, 1856 Defilippia Lioy, 1864 Litorrhynchus Verrall in Scudder, 1882 Exoptata Coquillett, 1887 Cladodisca Bezzi, 1922 Litomyza Hull, 1973[1]

Exoprosopa caliptera in Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado, US - note the silvery mirror stripes formed by patches of specialized hairs modified into reflecting scales

Description

This genus contains the largest bee flies, of about 14 mm, sometimes larger, up to 22 mm, though a few species are as small as 6 mm. The proboscis is short. The head is large and only loosely attached to the thorax. The antenna are small and well separated. Wings are large, with wingspan 40 mm, up to 64 mm in the largest species, nearly always boldly patterned; abdomen patterned (often banded) with white or pale scales on segment 6 and 7 or on each segment. Many species are sexually dimorphic.^[2]

Distribution

Species are found worldwide, however Southern Africa is especially species rich with over 135 species.^[2]

See also

• List of Exoprosopa species