Hedriodiscus vertebratus
(Say, 1824)
Hedriodiscus vertebratus is a of soldier fly in the Stratiomyidae. It occurs across North America from Canada through the United States to Mexico. The species was originally described as Odontomyia vertebrata by Say in 1824 before being transferred to Hedriodiscus. As a member of the Stratiomyinae, its larvae are likely aquatic, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Hedriodiscus vertebratus: /ˌhɛdri.oʊˈdɪskəs vərˈteɪbrətəs/
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Identification
In the Nearctic region, Hedriodiscus is separable from the similar Psellidotus, though the distinction becomes less clear in the Neotropics. The genus is characterized by features typical of the tribe Stratiomyini. may exhibit patterned with horizontal banding, a trait observed in related stratiomyine genera that has been associated with the ability to detect horizontally polarized light.
Images
Distribution
Canada, United States, Mexico.
Similar Taxa
- PsellidotusClosely related in the same tribe (Stratiomyini); distinguished from Hedriodiscus in the Nearctic region but distinction becomes fuzzy in the Neotropics, particularly South America
- OdontomyiaMember of the same tribe (Stratiomyini) with similar overall appearance; historically confused with Hedriodiscus, as evidenced by the original description of this as Odontomyia vertebrata