Insect Orders
The Stratiomyiidae Family: Soldier Flies
Odontomya sp.
a.
b.
c.
Stratiomys sp.
d.
e.
f.
Odontomya sp.
- Common Name: Soldier Fly
- Identifying Features: The larva does not have a conspiciously swollen anus as does Stratiomys sp.
- Time of Year Found: Spring
- Size of Mature Larva: 2cm (Figures a. and b.) 8mm (Figure c.)
- Habitat: Submergent vegetation
- Other Information: These can crawl outside of water. I observed one crawling 5 meters away from the container. In the water they eat and swim using their mouth brushes. Another species of the same genus was found (Figure c.) When both species are disturbed they curl up into a ball (Figure b.)
- Figures:
a. Dorsal view of larva
b. Disturbed larva in curled position
c. Dorsal view of larva of another species then that depicted above.
Stratiomys sp.
- Common Name: Soldier Fly
- Identifying Features: The presence of a conspicously swollen anus.
- Time of Year Found: Late spring to summer
- Size of Mature Larva: 21mm
- Habitat: Detritus
- Other Information: During the summer they can be found floating on the surface dead. They also use their mouth hairs to feed and swim.
- Figures:
d. Dorsal view of larva
e. Ventral view of larva
f. Swelled anus