List of soldierflies and allies of Great Britain facts for kids

Did you know that Britain is home to many different kinds of flies? This article explores some of the larger flies found in Britain. These flies belong to a group called larger Brachycera, which includes fascinating insects like soldierflies and their close relatives. They are an important part of nature, helping with things like pollination and being food for other animals. Let's dive into the world of these incredible insects!

Meet the Families of British Flies

The Awl-Flies (Family Xylophagidae)

Awl-flies are a small group of flies. They are often found in wooded areas. Their larvae (young flies) live in decaying wood. They help break down dead trees, which is important for the forest ecosystem.

• Xylophagus ater - common awl-fly
• Xylophagus cinctus - red-belted awl-fly

Water-Snipeflies (Family Athericidae)

Water-snipeflies are usually found near water, like rivers and streams. Their larvae live in the water and are predators, meaning they hunt other small water creatures. Adult water-snipeflies are often seen resting on plants near the water's edge.

• Atherix ibis - yellow-legged water-snipefly
• Atherix marginata - black-legged water-snipefly

Snipeflies (Family Rhagionidae)

Snipeflies are a diverse group of flies. Many of them have long, slender bodies and legs. They are often found in damp, shady places like woodlands. Some snipeflies are predators, catching smaller insects. Others might feed on nectar from flowers.

• Chrysopilus asiliformis - little snipefly
• Rhagio scolopaceus - downlooker snipefly
• Rhagio tringarius - marsh snipefly

Horseflies and Deerflies (Family Tabanidae)

Horseflies and deerflies are well-known for their biting habits. Only the females bite, as they need blood to produce their eggs. They can be quite large and are strong fliers. They are often found in sunny, open areas, especially near livestock or water.

Deerflies (Subfamily Chrysopsinae)

Deerflies are smaller than many horseflies and often have colorful, patterned eyes. They are known for their painful bites.

• Chrysops caecutiens - splayed deerfly
• Chrysops relictus - twin-lobed deerfly

True Horseflies (Subfamily Tabaninae)

This group includes the larger, more robust horseflies. They are powerful fliers and can be quite persistent when trying to bite.

• Haematopota pluvialis - cleg fly (a common type of horsefly) [1][2][3][4]
• Atylotus fulvus - golden horsefly
• Hybomitra montana - slender-horned horsefly
• Tabanus autumnalis - large marsh horsefly

Wood-Soldierflies (Family Xylomyidae)

Wood-soldierflies are a small family. They are often found in woodlands, similar to awl-flies. Their larvae develop in decaying wood, helping with decomposition.

• Solva marginata - drab wood-soldierfly
• Xylomya maculata - wasp wood-soldierfly

Soldierflies (Family Stratiomyidae)

Soldierflies are a diverse and often colorful group of flies. Many have metallic colors or patterns that make them look a bit like wasps or bees. Their larvae live in various places, including soil, water, or decaying plant matter.

Black Legionnaires (Subfamily Beridinae)

These soldierflies are often dark-colored and can be found in grassy or wooded areas.

• Beris chalybata - murky-legged black legionnaire
• Beris vallata - common orange legionnaire

Snout Soldierflies (Subfamily Nemotelinae)

Snout soldierflies have a distinctive "snout" or proboscis. They are often found in wet habitats like fens and marshes.

• Nemotelus nigrinus - all-black snout
• Nemotelus pantherinus - fen snout

Centurions and Gems (Subfamily Sarginae)

This group includes some of the most brightly colored soldierflies, often with metallic green or blue bodies. They are sometimes called "gems" because of their shiny appearance.

• Chloromyia formosa - broad centurion
• Microchrysa polita - black-horned gem
• Sargus iridatus - iridescent centurion

Aquatic Soldierflies (Subfamily Stratiomyinae)

Many soldierflies in this group are associated with water. Their larvae live in aquatic environments.

• Oxycera analis - dark-winged soldier
• Oxycera trilineata - three-lined soldier
• Odontomyia hydroleon - barred green colonel
• Stratiomys chamaeleon - clubbed general

Hunchback Flies (Family Acroceridae)

Hunchback flies are quite unusual. They have a very small head and a large, rounded body, giving them a "hunchback" appearance. They are parasites of spiders, meaning their larvae grow inside spiders.

• Ogcodes gibbosus - smart-banded hunchback
• Paracrocera orbiculus - top-horned hunchback

Bee-Flies (Family Bombyliidae)

Bee-flies are often mistaken for bees because of their furry bodies and hovering flight. They are important pollinators, visiting flowers to feed on nectar. Their larvae are often parasites of other insects.

True Bee-Flies (Subfamily Bombyliinae)

These are the most common bee-flies, known for their long proboscis (tongue) used to drink nectar.

• Bombylius major - dark-edged bee-fly
• Bombylius discolor - dotted bee-fly

Mottled Bee-Flies (Subfamily Exoprosopinae)

This group includes bee-flies with patterned wings.

• Thyridanthrax fenestratus - mottled bee-fly
• Villa cingulata - downland villa

Stiletto Flies (Family Therevidae)

Stiletto flies are slender flies often found in sandy areas or open woodlands. Their larvae live in the soil and are predators of other insect larvae.

• Acrosathe annulata - coastal silver-stiletto
• Thereva nobilitata - common stiletto
• Thereva unica - twin-spot stiletto

Windowflies (Family Scenopinidae)

Windowflies are small, dark flies. As their name suggests, they are sometimes found indoors near windows. Their larvae are predators of other small insects, including carpet beetle larvae.

• Scenopinus fenestralis - house windowfly
• Scenopinus niger - forest windowfly

Robberflies (Family Asilidae)

Robberflies are fierce predators of the insect world. They have strong legs to grab their prey in flight and a sharp proboscis to inject venom. They hunt other flies, bees, wasps, and even beetles.

True Robberflies (Subfamily Asilinae)

This group includes many of the larger and more common robberflies.

• Asilus crabroniformis - hornet robberfly (looks a bit like a hornet!)
• Machimus rusticus - downland robberfly
• Neoitamus cyanurus - common awl robberfly

Slender-Footed Robberflies (Subfamily Dasypogoninae)

These robberflies have more slender bodies and legs.

• Leptarthrus brevirostris - slender-footed robberfly

Bumblebee Robberflies (Subfamily Laphriinae)

Some robberflies in this group mimic the appearance of bumblebees, which helps them avoid predators.

• Laphria flava - bumblebee robberfly
• Choerades gilvus - ginger robberfly

Striped Slender Robberflies (Subfamily Leptogastrinae)

These are very thin and delicate-looking robberflies.

• Leptogaster cylindrica - striped slender robberfly

Black-Legged Robberflies (Subfamily Stenopogoninae)

This group includes robberflies with distinctive leg patterns.

• Dioctria rufipes - common red-legged robberfly
• Lasiopogon cinctus - spring heath robberfly