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Stratiomyinae

Keith Bayless
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Containing group: Stratiomyidae

Introduction

This is the most species rich subfamily of soldier flies. Stratiomyinae are generally large, brightly colored flies that often visit flowers. Many species mimic aculeate Hymenoptera. Among the best bee mimics in Stratiomyinae is Nyassimyia andreniformis from Malawi and South Africa, the larvae of which have been collected in tree holes (Woodley 2001).

The larvae of most Stratiomyinae are aquatic. Some have evolved tolerance to extreme habitats, such as brackish water and hot springs (James 1965). Oxycerini larvae are often found in mossy seepage areas and madicolous habitats (a thin film of water running over stone).  Mature aquatic larvae crawl out of water to pupate terrestrially under stones or leaf litter (Woodley 2001) .

Characteristics

Oxycerini is distinguished by the 6 antennal flagellomeres, m-cu absent, M veins weakened distally. The m-cu crossvein is present in Stratiomyini and Prosopochrysini. The A1 vein is sinuous in Prosopochrysini but straight in Stratiomyini. Prosopochrysine flies generally have slender, unpatterned abdomens and 5 antennal flagellomeres while flies in the tribe Stratiomyini often have brightly patterned abdomens which are at least three-fourths as broad as long and 5 or 6 antennal flagellomeres (James 1981).

Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

The Oxycerini are sometimes placed in the Clitellariinae. Woodley (2001) and Brammer and von Dohlen (2007) concur that the group is more closely related to the other stratiomyine tribes. Myxosargus is placed with Raphiocerinae in Brammer and von Dohlen's (2007) phylogenetic analysis, bringing into question the monophyly of Stratiomyinae.

References

Brammer, C.A. and C.D. von Dohlen. 2007. The evolutionary history of Stratiomyidae (Insecta: Diptera): the molecular phylogeny of a diverse family of flies. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 43:660-73.

James, M.T. 1965. Family Stratiomyidae. Pp.299-319, in Stone, A., C. Sabrosky, W. Wirth, R. Foote, J. Coulson. A catalog of the Diptera of America north of Mexico. Agricultural Research Service, USDA, IIV, 1-1696.

James, M.T. 1981. 36. Stratiomyidae. Manual Nearct. Dipt. 1: 497-511.

Woodley, N. E. 2001. A World Catalog of the Stratiomyidae (Insecta: Diptera). Myia 11: 1-473. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden.

Woodley, N. E. 2008. Two new Stratiomyinae, including Panamamyia gen. nov., from the Neotropical Region (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). Zootaxa 1701:29-39.

Information on the Internet

Title Illustrations
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Scientific Name Hoplitimyia constans
Location Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas, USA
Specimen Condition Live Specimen
Identified By Norman Woodley
Life Cycle Stage Adult
Source Collection BugGuide.Net
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License - Version 1.0.
Copyright © Edward Trammel
Scientific Name Stratiomys
Location Ascension Parish, Louisiana, USA
Specimen Condition Live Specimen
Identified By Norman Woodley
Life Cycle Stage Larva
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 2.5.
Copyright © Perry Babin
About This Page

Keith Bayless
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Keith Bayless at

All Rights Reserved.

Citing this page:

Bayless, Keith. 2008. Stratiomyinae. Version 28 September 2008 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Stratiomyinae/23964/2008.09.28 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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