Differential host use by neotropical phorid flies (Diptera : Phoridae) that are parasitoids of ants (Hymenoptera : Formicidae)

In the Neotropical Region there is a great diversity of phorid parasitoids attacking ants. Often, several species coexist as parasitoids of a single a nt species, but differentially use the host resources. Differential use can be classified as temporal, size or caste, host activity and bodypart diffe rences. The latter, bodypart differences, allow multiple species to even co -inhabit the same individual ant. The proportion of phorid diversity attrib utable to differential host use, rather than the diversity of available hos t ant species, is unknown.