Metadon ghorpadei and Metadon reemeri : Two Rare Ant-Fly Species
Researchers recently discovered two rare ant-fly species in India, Metadon ghorpadei and Metadon reemeri.They are two new species of ant flies.
These insects belong to the Microdontinae subfamily of hoverflies.Metadon ghorpadei was discovered in Delhi’s Northern Ridge Forest.Metadon reemeri was found in the Siruvani Hills of the Western Ghats.Globally, many Microdontinae species are considered rare or threatened due to their specialised habitat requirements and patchy distribution.They are known for their unique association with ants, as their larvae live inside ant nests and feed on ant broods, a specialised behaviour called myrmecophily that makes them exceptionally rare and difficult to detect.
