{{Short description|Genus of flies}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Automatic_taxobox | image = Bombilidae June 2008-3.jpg | image_caption = ''Exoprosopa italica'' | taxon = Exoprosopa | authority = Macquart, 1840 | synonyms = *''Litorhynchus'' <small>Macquart, 1840</small> *''Trinaria'' <small>Mulsant, 1852</small> *''Argyrospila'' <small>Rondani, 1856</small> *''Defilippia'' <small>Lioy, 1864</small> *''Litorrhynchus'' <small>Verrall in Scudder, 1882</small> *''Exoptata'' <small>Coquillett, 1887</small> *''Cladodisca'' <small>Bezzi, 1922</small> *''Litomyza'' <small>Hull, 1973</small><ref>{{Cite web |url= http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/bombcat/worldcat3-new.pdf |title= World Catalog Family Bombyliidae Latreille (Catalog - part 3 (Anthracinae)|accessdate=6 February 2010 |year= 2003|publisher= Bishop Museum|pages= 291–535}}</ref> | type_species = ''Bibio capucina'' | type_species_authority = Fabricius, 1781 }}
thumb|''Exoprosopa caliptera'' in Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado, US - note the silvery mirror stripes formed by patches of specialized hairs modified into reflecting scales
'''''Exoprosopa''''' is a large cosmopolitan genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae (bee-flies), with over 325 described species.<ref name=Hull>{{Cite book|author=Hull, F.M.|year=1973|title=Bee flies of the world. The genera of the family Bombyliidae|pages=[https://archive.org/details/beefliesofworl2861973hull/page/687 687 pp]|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|isbn=0-87474-131-9|location=Washington|url=https://archive.org/details/beefliesofworl2861973hull/page/687}}</ref> The genus parasitizes a wide range of insects, including locust and larvae of wasps.
==Description== This genus contains the largest bee flies, of about 14 mm, sometimes larger, up to 22 mm, though a few species are as small as 6 mm. The proboscis is short. The head is large and only loosely attached to the thorax. The antenna are small and well separated. Wings are large, with wingspan 40 mm, up to 64 mm in the largest species, nearly always boldly patterned; abdomen patterned (often banded) with white or pale scales on segment 6 and 7 or on each segment. Many species are sexually dimorphic.<ref name=Hull/>
==Distribution== Species are found worldwide, however Southern Africa is especially species rich with over 135 species.<ref name=Hull/>
==See also== * List of Exoprosopa species
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5420652}}
Category:Bombyliidae Category:Flies of Europe Category:Flies of Australasia Category:Flies of Africa Category:Flies of Asia Category:Flies of North America Category:Flies of South America Category:Bombyliidae genera Category:Taxa named by Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart