Conopidae -- a/o cat.

Australasian/Oceanian Diptera Catalog -- Web Version

52. Family CONOPIDAE

[Originally] By Kenneth G.V. Smith

The Conopidae contains some 800 described world species, which are usually found in dry areas among flowers where their main hosts (aculeate Hymenoptera) abound. There appear to be mimetic associations between certain conopids and wasps (Nicholson 1927). This mimicry probably has a Batesian function. However, because it allows close access to a dangerous host for the purpose of oviposition, Vane-Wright (1976) suggested that antergic aggressive mimicry (of the cuckoo type) could also be involved. In addition, many species have a strong resemblance to certain Syrphidae [e.g., Ceriana (subgenera Ceriana and Sphiximorpha)] with which they probably coexist on flowers.

Conopid larvae are solitary internal parasites of aculeate Hymenoptera (Conopinae, Myopinae, Dalmanniinae), gryllid Orthoptera, Dictyoptera, and some, mostly calyptrate, Diptera (Stylogastrinae). Many species use several hosts from different families.

Smith (1966b) summarized the biology of Conopidae, and later studies were published by Howell (1967), Smith (1967, 1969b, 1979), and Smith & Cunningham-van Someren (1970, 1985). Smith & Peterson (1987) included keys to genera for eggs and larvae. Physocephala vittata Fabricius and Myopa picta Panzer have been recorded as egg predators of Acrididae in the Palearctic Region. Conops (Asiconops) australianus has been reared from Campsomeris sp. (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) in Australia (Camras 1961).

In the Australasian/Oceanian Regions, Conopidae have been recorded from Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Lord Howe Island, the Loyalty Islands, and New Britain. Their absence elsewhere may be linked to restrictions of suitable hosts on the smaller Pacific islands and New Zealand. The Diptera of New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and the Solomons are too poorly known to be sure that conopids are truly absent (an unidentified species of Myopa from the Loyalty Islands suggests not). Several of the Australian genera are endemic, and it is likely that more species and genera await discovery.
Refs.: Kröber (1939b, 1940, keys), Camras (1957, 1961, keys), Smith (1979, key, rev.).

Subfamily CONOPINAE

Genus ATRICHOPARIA Schneider

ATRICHOPARIA Schneider, 2010: 33. Type species: Heteroconops curticornis Kröber, 1940, orig. des.
curticornis Kröber, 1940: 69 (Heteroconops). Australia (WA).

Genus AUSTRALOCONOPS Camras

AUSTRALOCONOPS Camras, 1961: 64. Type species: Conops splendidus Kröber, 1916, orig. des.
aequatus Walker, 1849: 675 (Conops). "New Holland"; Australia (NSW, Qld, Vic, WA).
     piceus Bigot, 1887b: 43 (Conops). Australia (WA).
aglaos Schneider, 2010: 40. Australia (NSW); Australia (Qld).
aptatus Walker, 1849: 675 (Conops). Australia (WA).
aurantius Schneider, 2010: 43. Australia (NSW).
aurosus Newman, 1841: 222 (Conops). Australia (NSW); Australia (Qld).
     bulbimus Walker, 1849: 674 (Conops). Australia (NSW).
     aureorufa Macquart, 1851: 134(162) (Conops). Australia (Tas), [= ?error].
     claviventris Thomson, 1869: 514 (Conops). Australia (NSW).
     aureomaculatus, error for aureorufa.
balteus Schneider, 2010: 44. Australia (Qld).
breviplatus Schneider, 2010: 47. Australia (NSW).
bridwelli Camras, 1961: 65. Australia (Qld); Australia (NSW, Vic).
brunneus Schneider, 2010: 49. Australia (WA).
camrasi Schneider, 2010: 50. Australia (NSW).
cantrelli Schneider, 2010: 52. Australia (NT).
elegans Schneider, 2010: 53. Australia (NSW); Australia (WA).
fulvitarsus Schneider, 2010: 54. Australia (Qld).
furvus Schneider, 2010: 55. Australia (Qld).
inglorior Walker, 1849: 676 (Conops). "New Holland"; Australia (SA, Vic.).
nebrius Schneider, 2010: 59. Australia (ACT); Australia (Qld).
neuter Schneider, 2010: 60. Australia (WA).
ocellatus de Meijere, 1910a: 163 (Conops). Australia (NSW); Australia (Qld, SA,WA).
     ocellifer, error for ocellata.
pallorivittus Schneider, 2010: 62. Australia (NT).
perbellum Kröber, 1939b: 601 (Conops). Australia (WA).
phaeomeros Schneider, 2010: 64. Australia (Qld); Australia (ACT, NSW, SA, Vic.).
picus Macquart, 1851: 134(161) (Conops). Australia (Tas).
pseudocellifer Kröber, 1939b: 601 (Conops). "Neuholland."; Australia (NSW, Qld, SA).
pulcher Camras, 1961: 67. Australia (NSW); Australia (WA).
ruficrus Schneider, 2010: 70. Australia (WA); Australia (SA).
similis Camras, 1961: 67. Australia (Qld); Australia (NSW).
splendidus Kröber, 1916: 63 (Conops). Australia (Qld); Australia ACT, (NSW, Vic).
sydneyi Camras, 1961: 69. Australia (NSW); Australia (Vic).
unicinctus Kröber, 1939b: 603 (Conops). Australia (WA); Australia (ACT, NSW, Qld, SA, Vic).
vespoides Schneider, 2010: 77. Australia (NSW); Australia (Vic.).

Genus CAMRASICONOPS Schneider

CAMRASICONOPS Schneider, 2010: 78. Type species: Microconops ater Camras, 1961, orig. des.
ater Camras, 1961: 70 (Microconops). Australia (NSW); Australia (Qld).
rufiemoris Camras, 1961: 71 (Microconops). Australia (NSW); Australia (Qld).

Genus CALLOSICONOPS Kröber

CHRYSIDIOMYIA Kröber, 1940: 73. Unavailable name; genus-group name proposed after 1930 without type-species designation.
CALLOSICONOPS Kröber, 1940: 75. Type species: Callosiconops hirsutus Kröber, 1940, mon.
CHRYSIDIOMYIA Kröber in Smith, 1989: 460. Type species: Chrysidiomyia rufa Kröber, 1940, des. Smith (1989: 460).
hirsuta Kröber, 1940: 75. Australia (WA).
pulchella Kröber, 1940: 74 (Chrysidiomyia). Australia (WA).
rufa Kröber, 1940: 73 (Chrysidiomyia). Australia (WA); Australia (Vic.).
rugifrons Schneider, 2010: 87. Australia (WA).
setosa Schneider, 2010: 89. Australia (WA); Ausatralia (SA).

Genus CONOPS Linnaeus

CONOPS Linnaeus, 1758: 604. Type species: Conops flavipes Linnaeus, 1758, des. Curtis, 1831: 377.
annulosus Bigot, 1887b: 36. Indonesia (Maluku); China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia.
rufifrons Doleschall, 1857: 412. Indonesia (Maluku); China.

Subgenus ASICONOPS Chen

ASICONOPS Chen, 1939: 171. Type species: Conops aureomaculatus Kröber 1933, orig. des.
aureofuscus Camras, 1957: 10. Indonesia (?Irian Jaya).
aureolus Schneider, 2010: 93. Australia (WA).
australianus Camras, 1961: 62. Australia (Qld).
nubeculosus, Kröber, 1916, not Bigot, 1887, ?misid.
badius Schneider, 2010: 95. Australia (Qld).
chvalai Schneider, 2010: 97. Australia (Qld).
metaxanthus Walker, 1864: 225. Indonesia (Irian Jaya); PNG (PNG); "Borneo," Indonesia (Sumatra).
nigrescens Camras, 1961: 64. Australia (Qld).
nubeculosus Bigot, 1887 [not Australasian/Oeanian].
satanicus Bigot, 1887b: 43. "Australie"; Australia (SA, Vic, WA).
seminiger de Meijere, 1910a: 162. Australia (NSW); Indonesia (Irian Jaya), PNG (PNG).
demeijerei Kröber, 1939b: 599 (seminiger var.). Indonesia (Irian Jaya) & "Australien" [= Australia (NSW).
sparsus Schneider, 2010: 103. Australia (Qld).
thoracicus Kröber, 1939b: 597. Australia (NSW); Australia (Qld, Tas).
valoka Smith, 1966c: 457. PNG (PNG); PNG (Bismarck Arch).

Genus DELKESKAMPOMYIA Kröber

DELKESKAMPOMYIA Kröber, 1940: 71. Type species: Delkeskampomyia fasciata Kröber, 1940, mon.
fasciata Kröber, 1940: 71. Australia (WA).

Genus HETEROCONOPS Kröber

HETEROCONOPS Kröber, 1915a: 80. Type species: Heteroconops gracilis Kröber, 1915, mon.
antennatus Kröber, 1940: 69. Australia (WA).
carnarvorensis Schneider, 2010: 110. Australia (Qld).
gracilis Kröber, 1915a: 81. Australia (NT); Australia (Qld, WA).
minutus Kröber, 1940: 67. Australia (Vic); Australia (Qld, SA).
tasmaniensis Kröber, 1940: 68. Australia (Tas).

Genus MICROCONOPS Kröber

MICROCONOPS Kröber, 1915a: 77. Type species: Microconops ornatus Kröber, 1915, pres. des.
atricornis Kröber, 1919a: 143. Australia (Qld).
brunnicornis Kröber, 1940: 78. Australia (WA); Australia (NSW).
fasciatus Kröber, 1915a: 79. Australia (NT); Australia (WA).
nigrithorax Kröber, 1940: 77. Australia (WA).
ornatus Kröber, 1915a: 78. Australia (Qld).
similis Kröber, 1940: 79. Australia (WA).
tasmaniensis Kröber, 1940: 79. Australia (Tas).

Genus NEOCONOPS Kröber

NEOCONOPS Kröber, 1915a: 75. Type species: Neoconops longicornis Kröber, 1915, mon.
brevistylus Schneider, 2010: 123. Australia (Qld).
glaber Schneider, 2010: 124. Australia (Qld).
longicornis Kröber, 1915a: 75. Australia (Qld); Australia (NSW).

Genus PHYSOCEPHALA Schiner

PHYSOCEPHALA Schiner, 1861: 137. Type species: Conops rufipes Fabricius, 1782, orig. des.
aureopygia Kröber, 1915b: 123. India; Australia (Qld).
australiana Camras, 1961: 74. Australia (WA); Australia (NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic).
bipartita Doleschall, 1858: 100 (Conops). Indonesia (Maluku); Indonesia (Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra), Philippines.
fumosa Camras, 1957: 115. Indonesia (Maluku).
minuta Kröber, 1915b: 131. Australia (Qld).
nigrotestacea Macquart, 1851: 135(162) (Conops). Australia (Tas); Australia (Qld, SA).
     sphegiformis Walker, 1853: 256 (Conops). Australia (Vic).
     macer Bigot, 1887b: 17 (Conops). "Australie."
     pallipes Kröber, 1915b: 132. [Australia].

Genus PLEUROCERINA Macquart

PLEUROCERINA Macquart, 1851: 164. Type species: Pleurocerina fasciata Macquart, 1851, orig. des.
PARACONOPS Kröber, 1915a: 74. Type species: Paraconops longicornis Kröber, 1915, mon.
aquila Schneider, 2010: 136. Australia (Tas).
aristalis Camras, 1961: 723 (Paraconops). Australia (WA).
brevis Schneider, 2010: 138. Australia (Qld); Australia (NSW).
chrysopyga Schneider, 2010: 139. Australia (WA).
fasciata Macquart, 1851: 164. "Tasmanie" [error, = Australia (NSW)]; Australia (NSW, Qld).
lamellata Schneider, 2010: 142. Australia (Qld); Australia (NSW, NT, SA).
longicornis Kröber, 1915a: 74 (Paraconops). Australia (Qld); Australia (NSW, NT).
lutea Schneider, 2010: 145. Australia (Qld).
luteiceps Schneider, 2010: 146. Australia (WA); Australia (SA).
nigrifacies Kröber, 1940: 66 (Paraconops). Australia (WA).
occidua Schneider, 2010: 149. Australia (WA).
saxatilis Schneider, 2010: 150. Australia (Qld); Australia (NSW).
scutellata Schneider, 2010: 151. Australia (Viuc); Australia (Tas).
similis Kröber, 1940: 65 (Paraconops). Australia (WA).
turneri Camras, 1961: 72 (Paraconops). Australia (WA).
vespiformis Schneider, 2010: 155. Australia (Qld); Australia (NSW).

Genus SETOSICONOPS Schneider

SETOSICONOPS Schneider, 2010: 157. Type spewcies: Neoconops robustus Kröber, 1940, orig. des.
epixanthus Schneider, 2010: 158. Australia (WA).
robustus Kröber, 1940: 66 (Neoconops). Australia (WA).
similis Schneider, 2010: 160. Australia (WA).

Genus SMARTIOMYIA Kröber

SMARTIOMYIA Kröber, 1940: 72. Type species: Smartiomyia obscura Kröber, 1940, mon.
arena Schneider, 2010: 162. Australia (Qld); Australia (NSW).
cerina Schneider, 2010: 164. Australia (WA).
danielsi Schneider, 2010: 164. Australia (Qld); Australia (NSW).
macalpinei Schneider, 2010: 166. Australia (SA); Australia (Vic).
obscura Kröber, 1940: 72. Australia (WA).

Genus STENOCONOPS Kröber

STENOCONOPS Kröber, 1939b: 606. Type species: Stenoconops niger Kröber, 1939, mon.
niger Kröber, 1939b: 606. Australia (WA).

Genus TANYCONOPS Schnieder

TANYCONOPS Schneider, 2010: 170. Type species: Tanyconops longicaudus Schneider, 2010, orig. des.
longicaudus Schneider, 2010: 171. Australia (WA); Australia (SA).
luteus Schneider, 2010: 173. Australia (Qld).
ocellatus Schneider, 2010: 173. Australia (Tas).

Subfamily MYOPINAE

Genus MYOPA Fabricius

MYOPA Fabricius, 1775: 798. Type species: Conops buccata Linnaeus, des. Curtis, 1838: pl. 677. [Usage is maintained here following Camras, 1965: 630].
ornata Kröber, 1940: 80. Australia (Vic).

Genus THECOPHORA Rondani

THECOPHORA Rondani, 1845b: 15. Type species: Myopa atra Fabricius, 1782, mon.
OCCEMYA Robineau-Desvoidy, 1853: 130. Type species: Myopa atra Fabricius, 1782, orig. des.
OCCEMYIA, ONCOMYIA, errors for Occemya.
australiana Camras, 1955: 124 (Occemyia). Australia (NSW).
papuana Camras, 1961: 75. PNG (PNG).

Subfamily NOTOCONOPINAE

Genus NOTOCONOPS Schneider

NOTOCONOPS Schneider, 2010: 27. Type species: Notoconops alexanderi Schneider, 2010, orig. des.
alexanderi Schneier, 2010: 28. Australia (NSW).

Subfamily STYLOGASTRINAE

Genus STYLOGASTER Macquart

STYLOGASTER Macquart, 1835: 38. Type species: Conops stylatus Fabricius, 1805, mon.
crosskeyi Smith, 1966a: 7. PNG (PNG).
frauci Smith, 1979: 307. Australia (Qld).
liepae Smith, 1979: 304. Lord Howe I.
macalpini Smith, 1979: 307. Australia (Qld); Australia (NSW).
papuana Kröber, 1940: 81. PNG (PNG).

This page last revised 23 May 2012