Some species, much the same as in the strongylophthalmyiid genus,
Strongylophthalmyia,
mimic ants; others mimic
wasps and are especially similar in appearance to some
ichneumonid wasps. Species of the genus
Anaeropsis have stalked eyes. Little is known of the larval habits, but they are probably
phytophagous or
saprophagous in decayed vegetation, old manure, or fungi. Larvae of certain
Mimegralla species have been found to live in the roots of
ginger and other plants, under the bark of dead trees, or in other decaying material. Species of
Micropeza have phytophagous larvae feeding in the root nodules of leguminous plants in open habitats. Species of
Rainieria develop in rotting wood and are found in old forests. Adults are either
predatory on small insects (for example
Calobata in Britain) or are attracted to
excrement or decaying fruit. Adults are found on low herbage, flowers, leaves, rotting fruit, and excrement. Many species (for example those of genus
Mimegralla) are known for their habit of standing motionless while waving their prominently marked front legs in front of their heads, a behavior which contributes to their mimicry of wasps. At least one species of
Metopochetus (
M. curvus) was observed to wave its hind legs instead, though these are not conspicuously colored. ==Identification==