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.).
AUSTRALOCONOPS Camras, 1961: 64. Type species: Conops splendidus
Kröber, 1916, orig. des.
aequatus Walker, 1849: 675 (Conops). "New Holland";
Australia (WA).
CALLOSICONOPS Kröber, 1940: 75. Type species: Callosiconops
hirsutus
Kröber, 1940, mon.
hirsutus Kröber, 1940: 75. Australia (WA).
CHRYSIDIOMYIA Kröber, 1940: 73. Unavailable name; genus-group
name proposed after 1930 without type-species designation.
CHRYSIDIOMYIA Kröber in Smith, 1989: 460. Type species:
Chrysidiomyia rufa Kröber, 1940, pres. des.
pulchella Kröber, 1940: 74. Australia (WA).
rufa Kröber, 1940: 73. Australia (WA).
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.
ASICONOPS Chen, 1939: 171. Type species: Conops aureomaculatus
Kröber 1933, orig. des.
aureofuscus Camras, 1957: 10. Indonesia (?Irian Jaya).
australianus Camras, 1961: 62. Australia (Qld).
DELKESKAMPOMYIA Kröber, 1940: 71. Type species: Delkeskampomyia
fasciata Kröber, 1940, mon.
fasciata Kröber, 1940: 71. Australia (WA).
HETEROCONOPS Kröber, 1915a: 80. Type species: Heteroconops
gracilis Kröber, 1915, mon.
antennatus Kröber, 1940: 69. Australia (WA).
curticornis Kröber, 1940: 69. Australia (WA).
gracilis Kröber, 1915a: 81. Australia (NT).
minutus Kröber, 1940: 67. Australia (Vic).
tasmaniensis Kröber, 1940: 68. Australia (Tas).
MICROCONOPS Kröber, 1915a: 77. Type species: Microconops
ornatus Kröber, 1915, pres. des.
ater Camras, 1961: 70. Australia (NSW).
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).
NEOCONOPS Kröber, 1915a: 75. Type species: Neoconops longicornis
Kröber, 1915, mon.
longicornis Kröber, 1915a: 75. Australia (Qld).
robustus Kröber, 1940: 66. Australia (WA).
PARACONOPS Kröber, 1915a: 74. Type species: Paraconops
longicornis Kröber, 1915, mon.
aristalis Camras, 1961: 723. Australia (WA).
longicornis Kröber, 1915a: 74. Australia (Qld).
nigrifacies Kröber, 1940: 66. Australia (WA).
similis Kröber, 1940: 65. Australia (WA).
turneri Camras, 1961: 72. Australia (WA).
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).
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).
SMARTIOMYIA Kröber, 1940: 72. Type species: Smartiomyia
obscura Kröber, 1940, mon.
obscura Kröber, 1940: 72. Australia (WA).
STENOCONOPS Kröber, 1939b: 606. Type species: Stenoconops
niger Kröber, 1939, mon.
niger Kröber, 1939b: 606. Australia (WA).
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).
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).
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).