Stratiomyidae

Soldier flies
Hermetia illucens
Odontomyia sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Suborder: Brachycera
Infraorder: Tabanomorpha
Superfamily: Stratiomyoidea
Family: Stratiomyidae
Latreille, 1802
Subfamilies
Wikispecies has information related to: Stratiomyidae

The soldier flies (Stratiomyidae, sometimes misspelled as Stratiomyiidae, from Greek στρατιώτης - soldier; μυια - fly) are a family of flies (historically placed in the now-obsolete group Orthorrhapha). The family contains over 2,700 species in over 380 extant genera worldwide.[1][2] Adults are found near larval habitats, which are found in a wide array of locations, mostly in wetlands, damp places in soil, sod, under bark, in animal excrement and in decaying organic matter. Stratiomyinae is a different sub group that tends to have an affinity to aquatic environments.[3]They are diverse in size and shape, though they commonly are partly or wholly metallic green, or somewhat wasplike mimics, marked with black and yellow or green and sometimes metallic. They are often rather inactive flies which typically rest with their wings placed one above the other over the abdomen.

Etymology

In English, the Stratiomidi are commonly called soldier flies, in German waffenfliegen ("armed flies"). In the Italian language Duméril (1832) used the common names term "stratiomidi" and "mosche armate" in the Dizionario delle Scienze Naturali (Dictionary of Natural Sciences).

Characteristics

Very small to large (3–20 mm long); 3 segmented antennae with the terminal segment annulated; ocelli present; lower orbital bristles absent. post-vertical orbital bristles absent; vibrissae absent; mouthparts - proboscis short, not piercing, maxillary palps 1 or 2 segmented; wings with a small discal cell or discal cell absent, nosub-apical cell, closed anal cell, costa not extending around the entire wing, sub-costa reaching the costa independently of vein 1, or joining vein 1 close to where it joins the costa; the leading edge veins often markedly stronger than the rest; vein 6 present and reaching the wing margin. Vein 7 present not reaching. Tibiae without spurs. For a pictorial atlas explaining these terms go to

Larvae and pupae

Larvae may be either aquatic or terrestrial. In regards to nutrition they may be saprophagous, mycophagous, or predatory. The larva is apodous and eucephalic and cylindrical-fusiform, depressed dorso-ventrally and distinctly segmented. The size of the mature larva is variable, depending on the species, from less than 1 cm in length up to 3–5 cm. The head is much narrower than the thorax and partially sunken into it. The integument is strongly sclerotized with the cuticle containing inclusions of calcium carbonate with hexagonal crystals which form a characteristic micro-sculpture. In aquatic species, the last urite is thin and more or less elongated forming a breathing tube which ends with a tuft of waterproofing bristles. It is used to draw air from the surface, the larva remaining submerged.

The pupa develops inside the exuvia of the last larval stage, a feature common to all Stratiomyomorpha. The pupation within the larval exuvia constitutes a case of evolutionary convergence with Cyclorrhapha , in which group there is the formation of a true puparium .

Biology

The larvae of Stratiomyidae are characterized by a wide variety of behaviours and habitats. The diet is mainly scavenger, but aquatic species also feed on algae. Not very frequent are zoophagia, predation and phytophagia.The aquatic larvae are sometimes characterized by particularly specific habitat requirements. For example, several species colonize rocks covered by a thin layer of water (hygropetric); others are found in brackish water, some in thermal springs. In general, though, Stratiomyidae larvae colonize stagnant waters or rivers near the shores, seeking the richest vegetation, algae and debris.

Terrestrial larvae are found in organic substrates: in decomposing vegetable matter and animal excreta, in moist soils and litter, under the bark of trees, etc. Inopus rubriceps (Macquart), the sugarcane soldier fly, is a pest: the larvae attack the roots of sugarcane in Australia.

Adults are glucophagous and visit flowers to feed on nectar, or else do not feed at all, dedicating their short lives to reproduction. Unlike other dipterous scavengers, adults of Stratiomyidae do not have relationships with the growth substrate of the larvae, except for oviposition.

Larval development takes place with a variable number of moults: depending on the species, up to 10 larval stages. Particularly well known is the post-embryonic development of Hermetia illucens, whose larvae develop through 6 stages.

It is reported that species of this fly may travel along with members of Polybioides raphigastra through the practice of mimicry.

Systematics

The Stratiomyidae are closely related to the family of Xylomyidae, with which they share 10 synapomorphies, and they form a monophyletic clade with the family of Pantophthalmidae with which they share 5 synapomorphies.

 Stratiomyomorpha  


 Stratiomyidae

 Xylomyidae

 Pantophthalmidae



Species lists

See also

Further reading

Literature for Palaearctic Fauna
Literature for World Fauna

References

  1. ↑ http://tolweb.org/Stratiomyidae/10444
  2. ↑ Woodley, N. E., 2001. A World Catalog of the Stratiomyidae (Insecta: Diptera). Myia 11: 1-473. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden
  3. ↑ Woodley, Norman (2009). "Family Stratiomyidae". Pensoft Publishers. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
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