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DIPTERA, Otitidae (= Ortalidae) -- <Images> & <Juveniles>

Ortalids are primarily plant feeders and are often scavengers in decaying plant materials. However, Lopez (1934) gave a brief account of Elassogaster sepsoides Wlk. as a predator in egg capsules of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria var. migratorioides R. & F. in the Philippines. This species was considered as the most important of natural enemies attacking the eggs of Locusta in the islands. In the insectary, maggots were found in egg capsules within one week after exposure to mated flies. A maximum of 28 maggots were found in one capsule. They were not believed to be limited in feeding to a single mass of eggs, but rather to move about in soil searching for others (Clausen 1940/62).

References: Please refer to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional references may be found at: MELVYL Library ]