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Photo#4273
Soldier Fly (Odontomyia sp.)? - Psellidotus

Soldier Fly (Odontomyia sp.)? - Psellidotus
Springfield, Virginia, USA
May 17, 2004
Is this a soldier fly (Odontomya sp.)? I saw it lying motionless on a peony petal. It looks almost like a green bee. Any help in identifying is appreciated.

This is a female in the genus
This is a female in the genus Psellidotus (formerly called Labostigmina in North America). It is most likely Psellidotus hieroglyphica (Olivier), but can't be identified from the image alone.

some links on family, genera
Insects of Cedar Creek has a page on STRATIOMYIDAE, and linked from there, pages on genera Stratiomys and Odontomyia, which do look close to your photo. (I know nothing about this group.)

Hmm. Look at this presumed female (smaller eyes) Odontomyia cincta. That looks real close. Given this is listed at North Carolina State entomology collection, that is looking pretty good. (If something is found both in NC and in Minnesota, it is usually a common, easily collected eastern species, in my limited experience.)

Again, this is just speculation, poking around the Internet.

NCSU Entomology lists Odontomyia cincta (7 specs.) and interrupta (13 specs.) and 3 species of Stratiomys.

Thanks for posting this image. I've seen the group in books, but had no idea what they looked like in real life.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

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