Genus Odontomyia

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Works Cited

Soldier Fly - Psellidotus sp? - Odontomyia

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon (Orthorrhapha)

Infraorder Stratiomyomorpha

Family Stratiomyidae (Soldier flies)

Subfamily Stratiomyinae

Tribe Stratiomyini

Genus Odontomyia

Numbers

31 spp. in our area, in 3 subgenera: Odontomyia s.str. (15), Odontomyiina (7), and Catatasina (9)(1)

Size

9-12 mm

Identification

Variable, abdomen usually black, often strongly marked with yellow-green bands. Species identification requires examination of genitalia in many cases.

Range

much of NA

Habitat

Woodlands, fields, usually near water.

Season

Typically spring-early summer. April-June in NC, May-July in MN

Food

Adults take nectar, also sometimes found on dung.

Life Cycle

Eggs are laid on the edge of body of water. Larvae are aquatic, feed on algae. They stick tip of abdomen up through water surface to obtain air.

larvae may be associated with Southern Pine Beetles (Forestry Images)

Works Cited

1.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico By Ross H. Arnett

Contributed by Cotinis on 4 October, 2004 - 10:49pm
Additional contributions by v belov
Last updated 25 July, 2010 - 5:50pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2012 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version