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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora) » Stratiomyomorpha » Soldier flies (Stratiomyidae) » Odontomyia

Genus Odontomyia

Syrphid - Odontomyia Green Fly - Odontomyia cincta Green Fly - Odontomyia cincta Soldier Fly - Odontomyia cincta strat - Odontomyia - female Green Fly - Odontomyia Fly larva - Odontomyia Fly larva - Odontomyia
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora))
Infraorder Stratiomyomorpha
Family Stratiomyidae (Soldier flies)
Genus Odontomyia
Numbers
Nearctica.com lists 27 species.
Arnett, p. 874, lists three subgenera: O. s. str. (15 spp), Odontomyiina (7 spp.), Catatasina (9 spp.), for a total of 31 spp. (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 North America.
Habitat
Woodlands, fields, usually near water.
Season
Typically spring-early summer. April-June (various species, North Carolina), May-July (various species, Minnesota)
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.

One reference (Forestry Images--see Internet references) states larva is associated with Southern Pine Beetles.
Print References
Arnett, pp. 873-874 (1)
Swan and Papp, p. 606, fig. 1293--O. communis (2)
Brimley, p. 331 (3)
Milne, p. 650, fig. 519 (4)
Internet References
Insects of Cedar Creek--genus, phenology--whole family
Forestry Images
North Carolina State University Entomology Collection lists O. cincta (7 specs.) and interrupta (13 specs.)
Works Cited
1.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
By Ross H. Arnett
2.The Common Insects of North America
By Lester A. Swan, Charles S. Papp
3.Insects of North Carolina
By C.S. Brimley
4.National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders
By Lorus and Margery Milne
Contributed by Cotinis on 4 October, 2004 - 10:49pm
Last updated 15 March, 2005 - 12:29pm

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