Oxycera analis, the dark-winged soldier, is a species of soldier fly.[1][2][3]

Oxycera analis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Stratiomyidae
Subfamily: Stratiomyinae
Tribe: Oxycerini
Genus: Oxycera
Species:
O. analis
Binomial name
Oxycera analis
Wiedemann in Meigen, 1822

Distribution

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This rather rare species can be found in most of Europe and in the Near East.[4]

Habitat

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These soldier flies usually inhabit woodland springs, calcareous seepages, small streams and sometimes fens and marshes.[5][6]

Description

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Oxycera analis can reach a length of 5.5–7 millimetres (0.22–0.28 in) and a wingspan of 5.9–6.6 millimetres (0.23–0.26 in).[7] In males of these medium-small soldier flies the body is almost entirely black, but the scutellar tubercles can be yellowish. In any case in the females the apex of tergite 5 of the scutellum is yellowish. Moreover the scutellum has two spines. Also the abdomen is black with a single apical spot, rarely with yellow side-markings. Antennal apical consists of the two last flagellomeres. Wings show a distinct dark cloud in the otherwise clear wings.[7][8]

Biology

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Adults of Oxycera analis can be found in Summer, with a peak in June and July. Larvae live in the sediments and mosses associated with wetlands.[5][9]

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Woodley, N.E. (2001). "A World Catalog of the Stratiomyidae (Diptera)". Myia. 11: 1–462. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  3. ^ Zeegers, T.; Schulten, A. (2022). Families of Flies with Three Pulvilli: Field Guide Northwest Europe. Graveland: Jeugdbondsuitgeverij. pp. 256pp. ISBN 9789051070682.
  4. ^ Fauna europaea
  5. ^ a b Oxycera analis (Dark-winged Soldier) in Flickr
  6. ^ Managing springs and seepages in woodlands
  7. ^ a b Menno Reemer English text for Reemer’s field key to soldierflies of the Netherlands
  8. ^ Menno Reemer Veldtabel wapen- en bastvliegen van Nederland (Diptera: Stratiomyidae & Xylomyidae)
  9. ^ R. Rozkosný A Biosystematic Study of the European Stratiomyidae (Diptera): Volume 2