Oxycera analis explained

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

Distribution

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

Habitat

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

Description

Oxycera analis can reach a length of 5.5- and a wingspan of 5.9-.^[6] 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.^{[6] [7]}

Biology

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.^{[8] [9]}

Notes and References

1. Book: Stubbs . Alan E . Drake . Martin . British Soldierflies and their allies (an illustrated guide to their identification and ecology) . 2014 . . Reading . 9781899935079 . 528 pp, 20 plates . 2.
2. Woodley . N.E. . A World Catalog of the Stratiomyidae (Diptera) . Myia . 2001 . 11 . 1–462. 7 December 2022.
3. Book: Zeegers . T. . Schulten . A. . Families of Flies with Three Pulvilli: Field Guide Northwest Europe . 2022 . Jeugdbondsuitgeverij . Graveland . 9789051070682 . 256pp.
4. https://fauna-eu.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/e75a279e-38ee-4d1a-ac91-a49c09321aae Fauna europaea
5. https://www.buglife.org.uk/sites/default/files/Sheet%203%20Managing_Spring_Seepages_Woodlands%20web.pdf Managing springs and seepages in woodlands
6. Menno Reemer English text for Reemer’s field key to soldierflies of the Netherlands
7. Menno Reemer Veldtabel wapen- en bastvliegen van Nederland (Diptera: Stratiomyidae & Xylomyidae)
8. https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/sets/72157632881376151/ Oxycera analis (Dark-winged Soldier) in Flickr
9. R. Rozkosný A Biosystematic Study of the European Stratiomyidae (Diptera): Volume 2