Megaselia

There are several species that attack ants in this parasitoid genus with 1,892 species world wide. The lifehistories within this single genus are more diverse than the rest of the family combined,with some Megaselia species being predators, parasitoids, kleptoparasites, andcommercial pests. They consume fungi, plants, other insects at every stage, carrion, andmany other substrates thought truly uninhabitable (Disney 1994). The ecosystem servicesthis genus provides cannot be overestimated.

(4) (PDF) The tip of the iceberg: A distinctive new spottedwing Megaselia species (Diptera: Phoridae) from a tropical cloud forest survey and a new, streamlined method for Megaselia descriptions. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268880435_The_tip_of_the_iceberg_A_distinctive_new_spottedwing_Megaselia_species_Diptera_Phoridae_from_a_tropical_cloud_forest_survey_and_a_new_streamlined_method_for_Megaselia_descriptions [accessed Jan 30 2023].

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List of Megaselia and their Host Ants

Genus and species	Author and Year	Ant Host	Distribution
Megaselia aurea	(Aldrich, 1896)	Eciton burchellii	United States: Florida, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras
Megaselia holosericei	Disney & Brown, 2003	Camponotus holosericeus	Singapore
Megaselia insignicauda	Disney, 2008	Leptogenys mutabilis	Borneo
Megaselia kodongi	Disney, 1986	Carebara	Sulawesi
Megaselia pagei	Disney, 1987	Odontomachus simillimus	Sulawesi
Megaselia persecutrix	Schmitz, 1932	Dinomyrmex gigas	Sarawak

REFERENCES

• Aldrich, J.M. 1896. Dolichopodidae, pp. 309-345, pl. 12. In: Williston, S. W., On the Diptera of St. Vincent (West Indies). Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1896: 253-446, pls. 8-14.

• Borgmeier, T. (1924). Um novo genero de Phorideos do Parana. Bol. Mus. Nac. Rio De Janeiro.

• Borgmeier, T. (1925). "Novos subsidios para o conhecimento da familia Phoridae". Arquivos do Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro. 25: 85–281, pls. I-XVII.

• Borgmeier, T. (1926). Phorideos Myrmecophilos da Argentina (Dipt.). Bol. Mus. Nac. Rio De J.

• Borgmeier, T. (1928). Investigacoes sobre Phorideos Myrmecophilos (Diptera - Phoridae). Arch. Inst. Biol. Def. Agric. Amin. S. Paulo.

• Borgmeier, T. 1932. Revisão do genero ecitophilo Xanionotum Brues, com a descripção de duas especies novas (Dipt. Phoridae). Revista de Entomologia 2: 369-380.

• Borgmeier, T. 1959. Neue und wenig bekannte Phoriden aus der neotropischen Region. Nebst einigen Arten aud dem Belgischen Congo-Gebiet (Diptera, Phoridae). Studia ent. 2: 129-208.

• Borgmeier, T. (1963). Revision of the North American Phorid Flies. Part 1. (Dipt. Phoridae). Studia Ent.

• Brown BV. Differential host use by neotropical phorid flies (Diptera: Phoridae) that are parasitoids of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Sociobiology. 1999;33(3):95–103.

• Brown BV, Kung GA, Porras W. A new type of ant-decapitation in the Phoridae (Insecta: Diptera). Biodivers Data J. 2015 Jan 2;(3):e4299

• Brues, C.T. 1902. New and little known guests of the Texan legionary ants. American Naturalist 36: 365-378.

• Brues, C.T. 1936. A new ecitophilous North American phorid fly. Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 31: 68-70.

• Disney, R.H.L. 1987. A most remarkable new genus of scuttle fly (Diptera: Phoridae) from Sulawesi. Systematic Entomology 12: 29-32.

• Disney, R. H. L. (2007). New species and revisionary notes on scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) associated with Neotropical army ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology.

• Disney, H. R. L., & Berghoff, S. M. (2007). New species and new records of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) associated with army ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Panama. Sociobiology.

• Disney, R. H. L., & Berghoff, S. M. (2008). Further records, with a new species, of scuttle flies (Diptera, Phoridae) associated with army ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Panama. Sociobiology.

• Enderlein, G. 1912. Die Phoridenfauna Süd-Brasiliens. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 73: 16-45. [1912.03.20]

• Malloch, J.R. 1912. The insects of the dipterous family Phoridae in the United States National Museum. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 43[1938]: 411-529.

• Schmitz, H. 1923. Zwei neue Phoriden aus Australien und Brasilien. Ent. Ber. 6: 188-192.