Stratiomys

Stratiomys species are distinguished from other Stratiomyidae by their broad, flattened abdomen with black and yellow patterning, and relatively robust body form. Males typically have hairy eyes while females have bare eyes. The first antennal segment is elongated, approximately four times the length of the second segment. Species-level identification requires examination of abdominal pattern details, thoracic hair coloration, and genitalic structures.

Larvae develop in aquatic or semi-aquatic environments including grazing marshes, ditches, muddy washlands, and brackish marshes. Habitats are often shallow, algae-dominated, and eutrophic. Adults are found in vegetation near larval habitats and at flowers.

Widely distributed across the Palaearctic region, with records from Europe, Asia, and North America. Specific documented occurrences include: Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Yugoslavia. North American records include the United States (Vermont) and Canada.

Adult activity varies by species. Stratiomys singularior adults are on the wing from late May to early September, peaking in July. Larvae of varying sizes can be encountered year-round.

Larvae are aquatic and develop in marshes, ditches, and semi-aquatic environments. The life cycle of at least one species (Stratiomys singularior) has been suggested as biannual, though this remains to be definitively established. Pupation occurs in the puparium. Adults emerge in late spring through summer.

Adults are flower visitors and have been observed feeding on nectar. Some species are notably flighty and difficult to approach. The genus exhibits wasp-mimicry in coloration and body form, presumably as predator avoidance.

• HoplitimyiaBoth genera are wasp-mimicking soldier flies with black and yellow coloration. Hoplitimyia species typically have more slender bodies and different antennal proportions; Stratiomys has a broader, more flattened abdomen.
• Syrphidae (hoverflies)Convergent wasp-mimicry creates superficial similarity. Syrphids have a single pair of wings with a distinct venation pattern including a 'false vein' (spurious vein), and typically have shorter antennae; Stratiomys has two visible wing pairs (reduced hindwings as halteres) and elongated first antennal segment.

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Fly got eye! | Beetles In The Bush
• Biology and description of larva and puparium of the Palaearctic soldier flyStratiomys ruficornis(Diptera: Stratiomyidae)
• The genome sequence of a soliderfly, Stratiomys singularior (Harris, 1776).