Parasitic behavior of the larvae of the Conopidae family (Diptera: Conopidae)

Abstract

Known larvae are parasitoids, most are parasitoids of Hymenoptera, particularly those of the Aculeata group, wasps and bees. Adult females are aggressive when they attack their hosts in flight to lay their eggs. The female abdomen is modified; it is like a can opener with which they can separate the segments of the abdomen of their victims to insert an egg. The Stylogastrinae subfamily, including the Stylogaster genus, is somewhat different. The egg is harpoon-shaped, capable of piercing the host's integument. Some species of Stylogaster are mutualistic with warrior ants. To know the parasitic behavior of the larvae of the Conopidae Family (Diptera: Conopidae). In this study, quantitative and conceptual aspects were used. To this end, a bibliographic survey of Conopidae was carried out in the years 1974 to 2021. Only complete articles published in scientific journals and expanded abstracts presented at national and international scientific events, Doctoral Thesis and Master's Dissertation were considered. Data were also obtained from platforms such as: Academia.edu, Frontiers, Qeios, Pubmed, Biological Abstract, Publons, Dialnet, World, Wide Science, Springer, RefSeek, Microsoft Academic, Science and ERIC.