Leptometopa Becker, 1903
Leptometopa latipes photo Photo: L. latipes (Meigen), male (Photo: P. Brake)

The genus Leptometopa consists of 19 species and belongs into the subfamily Madizinae. It is known from all biogeographic regions. Several species have been collected in caves, others on various kinds of dung, on carrion, in bird's nests or on flowers of Solidago, Cistanche phelypaca, or Umbelliferae. Leptometopa latipes has been observed to be kleptoparasitic on spiders.
The genus can be recognized by a ventrally extended lunule, which almost reaches the ventral margin of the face and by an dorsally extended subtriangular epistoma. Leptometopa latipes, head photo

The hind tibia of males is sometimes greatly broadened.
Exemplary species:
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Content by Irina Brake, last updated: April 22, 2004

Background photo: Madiza glabra Fallén on flowers of Solidago canadensis