Toxophora
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| Toxophora | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Toxophora amphitea | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Bombyliidae |
| Subfamily: | Toxophorinae |
| Genus: | Toxophora Meigen, 1803 |
| Type species | |
| Asilus fasciculatus Villers, 1789 | |
| Synonyms | |
Toxophora is a genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae (bee-flies). There are about 47 described species, distributed throughout the world, although they are most abundant in Southwestern United States and western Mediterranean.[1] They are stout, robust flies with a hunchbacked form, with a body length of 6–12 mm and wings 4 to 7.5mm. Most species are black with banding or spots.[2]
Larvae are parasitoids of solitary wasps and bees, especially in the family Vespidae.[2][3]