Stratiomyiidae

(soldier flies), a family of flies. Stratiomyiids measure 5-15 mm in size and have a flattened abdomen. They are brightly colored; the black body has yellow and green stripes and spots. Sometimes the body has a metallic sheen. Less commonly, stratiomyiids are completely black. There are more than 1,500 species, which are distributed on all continents except Antarctica. In the USSR, there are about 200 species (chiefly in the southern regions). The flies live on flowers and plants near water (less often, on tree trunks and branches). The larvae live in polluted waters, under the bark of trees, in decaying wood, in forest litter, in compost and manure, and in anthills. They are either saprophagous or predatory.