Genus Megaphorus

Most species formerly treated under Mallophorina, some as Mallophora.

Megaphorus Bigot, 1857

Greek mega- 'large' + phor- 'bearing, bringing'(1)

15 spp. in our area, 16 total(2)

Small, hairy flies that superficially resemble Leaf-cutter Bees (Megachilidae)

so. US & Mexico; M. clausicellus & M. minutus range north to PA, M. guildianus to MT(2)

Eggs (at least in M. minutus) are laid in a mass on the stem of a plant, such as a stiff blade of grass:

This unusual (for an asilid) egg-laying habit is shared with the related genus Mallophora (see genus page). Certain Mallophora are reported to be parasitoids of scarab beetles, and the unusual egg-laying habit is thought to aid in the dispersal of tiny larvae in search of hosts. Given the similarity of egg-laying habits in at least some species of the two genera, it seems likely that Megaphorus is also a parasitoid or predator of ground-dwelling insect larvae. See Mallophora account for more information.

Mallophora | Megachilidae

Cole, Frank R., and A. Earl Pritchard. 1964. The genus Mallophora and related Asilid genera. Univ. of Calif. Publications in Entomology. 36(2): 43-100.