The Metopininae are the largest subfamily of flies in the family Phoridae, largely due to the inclusion of the extremely species-rich genus Megaselia.Marshall, Stephen A. (2012). Flies: The Natural History and Diversity of Diptera. Firefly Books. p. 305. . Members of this subfamily are widespread and common, with species such as Megaselia scalaris being particularly ubiquitous
Taxonomy Tribe: Beckerinini Beckerina Malloch, 1910 Tribe: Metopinini Peterson 1987 Acanthophorides Borgmeier, 1924 Acontistoptera Brues, 1902 Apocephalus Coquillett, 1901 Auxanommatidia Borgmeier, 1924 Cataclinusa Schmitz, 1927 Chonocephalus Wandolleck, 1898 Commoptera Brues, 1901 Cremersia Schmitz, 1924 Dacnophora Borgmeier, 1961 Diocophora Borgmeier, 1959 Ecitomyia Brues, 1901 Ecitoptera Borgmeier & Schmitz, 1923 Gymnophora Macquart, 1835 Kerophora Brown, 1988 Lecanocerus Borgmeier, 1962 Megaselia Rondani, 1856 Melaloncha Brues, 1903 Menozziola Schmitz, 1927 Metopina Macquart, 1835 Microselia Schmitz, 1934 Myrmosicarius Borgmeier, 1928 Neodohrniphora Malloch, 1914 Pericyclocera Schmitz, 1927 Phalacrotophora Enderlein, 1912 Phymatopterella Brues, 1933 Physoptera Borgmeier, 1958 Pseudacteon Coquillett, 1907 Puliciphora Dahl, 1897 Rhyncophoromyia Malloch, 1923 Stenophorina Borgmeier, 1963 Styletta Borgmeier, 1960 Syneura Brues, 1903 Trophithauma Schmitz, 1925 Trophodeinus Borgmeier, 1960 Xanionotum Brues, 1902
Ecology Members of the subfamily Metopininae exhibit diverse ecological habits, particularly within the large genus Megaselia. Larvae of many species are saprophagous, developing in decaying organic material such as fruit, fungi, or compost, while others act as parasitoids. For example, Megaselia scalaris has been recorded as a parasitoid of Isognathus caricae caterpillars. Certain Metopininae species are also regarded as agricultural pests. “Cob flies” (various Megaselia spp.) are known to infest sweet corn, where larvae feed on developing kernels.
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