Family Stratiomyidae - Soldier flies

Stratiomyidae Latreille 1802

>250 spp. in ~40 genera in our area(2), ~2,700 spp. in >380 genera worldwide(3)

Overview of our fauna (* –taxa not yet in the guide; classification adapted from (4)):

Family Stratiomyidae

Subfamily Chiromyzinae Inopus

Subfamily Beridinae Actina, Allognosta, Beris, Exaireta

Subfamily Antissinae Exodontha

Subfamily Pachygastrinae *Artemita, Berkshiria, *Borboridea, Cosmariomyia, Eidalimus, Gowdeyana, Neopachygaster, Pachygaster, Zabrachia

Subfamily Clitellariinae Adoxomyia, Cyphomyia, Dicyphoma, Dieuryneura, Euryneura

Subfamily Hermetiinae Hermetia

Subfamily *Chrysochlorininae *Chrysochlorina

Subfamily Sarginae Cephalochrysa, Chloromyia, Merosargus, Microchrysa, Ptecticus, Sargus

Subfamily Nemotelinae Brachycara, Nemotelus

Subfamily Stratiomyinae

2-18 mm(2) [up to 28 mm worldwide(5)]

Often superficially resemble wasps in appearance and behavior. Adults vary widely in color and shape. Wings at rest are folded scissorlike across the abdomen.

Wing venation distnctive; the branches of R are rather heavy and are crowded together toward the costal margin of the wing, and the discal cell is small.

Larvae torpedo-shaped and may be flattened, with cuticle of some species firm and somewhat tough. Head generally small and narrower than the body.

worldwide and throughout NA; by far most diverse in the Neotropics (~1000 spp.)(5)

Larvae in a variety of situations, but mostly associated with decaying plant matter from leaf litter to rotting fruits; some (esp. Pachygastrinae) under bark of fallen trees; larvae of Nemotelinae and Stratiomyinae are aquatic (various wet habitats: ponds, rivers, tree holes, seepage areas). Adults often found on leaves in sunny forest patches; some (particularly Stratiomyinae and some Clitellariinae) frequent flowers; adults of Sarginae and Hermetiinae usually found near larval food sources(5)

Aquatic larvae feed on algae, decaying organic matter or on other aquatic organisms

Pupation occurs in the last larval skin(2)