Stratiomys chamaeleon

Stratiomys chamaeleon
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Stratiomyidae
Subfamily: Stratiomyinae
Tribe: Stratiomyini
Genus: Stratiomys
Species:
S. chamaeleon
Binomial name
Stratiomys chamaeleon
Synonyms
  • Musca sellata Sulzer, 1761
  • Musca chamaeleon Linnaeus, 1758
  • Musca spatula Scopoli, 1763
  • Musca chamelion Harris, 1778
  • Stratiomys nigrodentata Meigen, 1804
  • Stratiomys chamoeleon Macquart, 1826
  • Stratiomys rhaetica Jaennicke, 1866
  • Stratiomyia flavoscutellata Wulp, 1885
  • Stratiomys unguicornis Becker, 1887
  • Stratiomyia kasnakowi Pleske, 1901
  • Stratiomyia kosnakowi Pleske, 1901
  • Stratiomyia winogradowinikitini Pleske, 1922
  • Stratiomyia kasnakovi Pleske, 1924
  • Stratiomyia vinogradovinikitini Pleske, 1924

Stratiomys chamaeleon, the clubbed general, is a European species of soldier fly.

Description

Male Glossy black with yellow spots.The eyes are circled by a narrow yellow band. Face with greyish hair and a small triangular spot of yellow hairs. The scutellum is reddish-yellow with yellow on each side. The thoracic spines often black at the tip. Legs yellow, femurs black. Wings slightly brownish. Abdomen: tergites with three pairs of spots, the last ones smaller, the tip of the abdomen yellow; sternites with small black spots, broken in the middle. Female Face yellow with a black band. Abdomen: sternites with wide black bands. Legs yellow, femurs ringed with black. Length 14–15.5 mm.

Biology

It is found in moist places on umbellifers; in May on hawthorn and marsh marigold flowers; in summer on aquatic plants.

Distribution

It has a widespread Palearctic distribution, occurring in Southern Europe and parts of Asia. It has a very restricted range in Britain, where it is regarded as endangered.

Ecology

In Britain larvae have been found in tufa-rich flush systems. Elsewhere larvae of Stratiomys chamaeleon have been recorded from the margins of freshwater ponds and spring pools as well as from semi saline conditions. Adults are on the wing from late June to the middle of August, with peak occurring in mid to late July and feed on nectar, mostly from umbellifers.

References

  1. 1 2 Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema naturae... Ed. 10, Vol. 1. Holmiae [= Stockholm]: L. Salvii. pp. 824 pp. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  2. ↑ Sulzer, J.H. (1761). Die Kennzeichnen der Insekten. Zurich: Heidegger. pp. xxviii + 203 + 67 pp., 24 pls.
  3. ↑ Scopoli, I.A. (1763). Entomologia carniolica exhibens insecta carnioliae indigena et distributa in ordines, genera, species, varietates. Methodo Linnæana. Vindobonae [= Vienna]: Trattner. pp. [30] + 420 pp. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  4. ↑ Meigen, J.W. (1804). Klassifikazion und Beschreibung der europäische n zweiflugeligen Insekten (Diptera Linn.). Erster Band. Abt. I. Braunschweig [= Brunswick]: Reichard. pp. xxviii + pp. 1–152, Abt. II. vi + pp. 153–314.
  5. ↑ Macquart, P.J.M. (1826). "Insectes diptères du nord de la France. Asiliques, bombyliers, xylotomes, leptides, stratiomyides, xylophagites et tabaniens". Mem. Soc. Sci. Agric. Arts, Lille. 1825: 324–499, 3 pls.
  6. ↑ Jaennicke, J.F. (1866). "Beiträge zur Kenntniss der europäische n Stratiomyden, Xylophagiden u. Coenomyiden sowie Nachtrag zu den Tabaniden". Berliner entomologische Zeitschrift. 10 (1–3): 217–237. doi:10.1002/mmnd.18660100114. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  7. ↑ Wulp, F.M. van der (1885). "On exotic Diptera. Part 2". Notes from the Leyden Museum. 7: 57-64 – 65-86. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  8. ↑ Becker, T. (1887). "Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Dipteren-Fauna von St. Moritz" (PDF). Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift. 31: 93–141. doi:10.1002/mmnd.18870310120. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  9. ↑ Stubbs, Alan E; Drake, Martin (2014). British Soldierflies and their allies (an illustrated guide to their identification and ecology) (2 ed.). Reading: British Entomological and Natural History Society. pp. 528 pp, 20 plates. ISBN 9781899935079.
  10. ↑ Woodley, N.E. (2001). "A World Catalog of the Stratiomyidae (Diptera)". Myia. 11: 1–462. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  11. ↑ Zeegers, T.; Schulten, A. (2022). Families of Flies with Three Pulvilli: Field Guide Northwest Europe. Graveland: Jeugdbondsuitgeverij. pp. 256pp. ISBN 9789051070682.
  12. ↑ Seguy, E. 1927 Faune de France 13: Diptères (Brachycères) (Stratiomyiidæ, Erianidæ, Cænomyiidæ, Rhagionidæ, Tabanidæ, Codidæ, Nemestrinidæ, Mydaidæ, Romoyiidæ, Therevidæ, Omphralidæ) Lechevalier editions (Paris: Éditions Faune de France)
  13. 1 2 Howe, Mike; Howe, Liz (1995). "The soldier fly Stratiomys chamaeleon on Anglesey and the Black Isle". Dipterists Digest (Print). Second series. 2 (1). Dipterists Forum: 24–28. ISSN 0953-7260.