www.small-beings.org
www.small-beings.org
Die Waffenfliegen (Stratiomyidae) sind eine Familie der Zweiflügler (Diptera) und werden den Fliegen (Brachycera) zugeordnet. Weltweit sind etwa 2650 Arten dieser Gruppe bekannt, davon in Europa 141, in Mitteleuropa etwa 100 und in Deutschland 68.
Waffenfliegen sind eine Gruppe von Fliegenarten, die sich durch ihre färbliche Ähnlichkeit mit alten Uniformen auszeichnen. Sie sind meist mittelgroß und werden bis zu 20 Millimeter groß. Die Fliegen sind hauptsächlich in Waldgebieten anzutreffen und ernähren sich von Pollen, Nektar und organischen Stoffen aus dem Dung größerer Tiere. Die Larven der Waffenfliegen haben verschiedene Lebensweisen und entwickeln sich entweder im Wasser oder in verschiedenen Lebensräumen wie Baumstubben, Boden oder Dung. Fossile Waffenfliegen wurden hauptsächlich in Bernstein gefunden. Die Unterscheidung erfolgt in 12 Unterfamilien, darunter die Antissinae, Beridinae, Chiromyzinae, Stratiomyinae und Sarginae.
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. Larvae 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. Adults are found near larval habitats. 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. The Stratiomyinae are a subfamily that tend to have an affinity to aquatic environments.
Soldier flies, also known as Stratiomidi or Waffenfliegen, are a group of flies characterized by their size, with lengths ranging from 3 to 20 mm. They have distinct characteristics such as three-segmented antennae, absence of lower orbital bristles, and short, non-piercing proboscis. The larvae of soldier flies can be either aquatic or terrestrial and exhibit various feeding behaviors including scavenging, predation, and herbivory. The pupa develops within the exuvia of the last larval stage, and adults of soldier flies primarily visit flowers for nectar or do not feed at all. Soldier flies are closely related to Xylomyidae and Pantophthalmidae, forming a monophyletic clade.