Sargus iridatus explained

Sargus iridatus, the iridescent centurion, is a European species of soldier fly.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Description

The body length is 6.0 to 11.0 mm.Like Sargus cuprarius, it is almost entirely purple. It has black antennae, the third segment of the antenna in males being shorter than the second.It has a whitish proboscis; the face and frons are metallic green. There are two clearly delineated white spots at the base of the antennae better developed in females. The thorax has blue reflections. It has black legs, with knees barely paler. The wings are uniformly smoky.It has dirty yellowish halteres. The abdomen is less violet, with black sternites.^{[4] [5] [6] [7]}

Biology

It is found in open and wooded habitats. Larval habitats are in dung, decomposing vegetable matter and compost.

Distribution

Its distribution covers western Europe, northern, and southern Europe, north up to Finland and European Russia.

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. Seguy. E. Faune de France Faune n° 13 1926. Diptères Brachycères.308 p., 685 fig.
5. [George Henry Verrall]
6. E. P. Narchuk in Bei-Bienko, G. Ya, 1988 Keys to the insects of the European Part of the USSR Volume 5 (Diptera) Part 2 English edition. Keys to Palaearctic species but now needs revision.
7. [William Lundbeck]