- Source: Beris
Beris is a genus of flies in the family Stratiomyidae. They are also referred to as the false soldier fly. As described by Latreille in 1802, these are small to medium sized flies with metallic colors.
Taxonomy
Description
These are flies with elongated bodies and reduced palpi. The scutellum typically features spines and the abdomen has seven visible segments. They are characterized as having black or metallic green thorax, black or orange abdomen and darkened wings in some species.
Habitat and Behavior
Soldier flies are primarily found in tropical regions but are widespread globally. The larvae are scavengers, inhabiting decaying organic matter, wet moss, compost, and aquatic environments. Adults are typically found near larval habitats, frequenting flowers and forming swarms. These swarms are normally observed around foliage near mountain valleys, marshes, and damp places.
Morphology
Bright, metallic colored species sometimes resemble wasps or bees. The wing venation is a strongly specific characteristic of the family, with interior veins and a small discal cell in the anterior half of the wing. The antennae show structural variations, and the scutellum is equipped with spines.
The larval body is flat with a strongly sclerotized head capsule, three thoracic and about 8 abdominal body segments. The cuticle has a honeycomb-like appearance due to calcium carbonate secretions. The mandibles and maxillae are fused together, forming two distinct mandibular-maxillary complexes. These complexed move alternately in a vertical plain. Terrestrial larvae are elongated and oval with a rounded abdominal end, while aquatic or semi-aquatic larvae have a tapering posterior end with a crown of hydrofuge hair.
The larvae are not predatory or parasitic. They feed on detritus, while their specialized mouthparts serve as sweeping apparatus. Aquatic larvae feed on decaying leaves, micro-organisms and detritus, while the Oxycera larvae feed on algae on moist rocks. Some adults are nectar feeders, indicated by an elongated proboscis and narrow labella, however, most of the species have a relatively short proboscis with a large fleshy labella which consume pollen grains and honeydew.
In general, male flies in the genus Beris tend to be slightly smaller in size compared to females. Their eyes are contiguous in the male. The coloration of the body and wings can vary between species and exhibit sexual dimorphism
Life Cycle
In temperate regions, the life cycle is annual. The larvae may hibernate several times. The eggs are usually pale yellow and elongated. The female is capable of laying 600 or more eggs per batch. Pupation takes place within the final larval skin, or puparium. The pupa is much smaller than puparium since the remaining space is filled with air to allow floatation upon the water's surface.
Species
Beris alamaculata Yang & Nagatomi, 1992
Beris ancistra Cui, Li & Yang, 2010
Beris annulifera var. luteipes Johnson, 1926
Beris annulipes Brunetti, 1912
Beris basiflava Yang & Nagatomi, 1992
Beris burmanica Frey, 1960
Beris chalybata (Forster, 1771)
Beris clavipes (Linnaeus, 1767)
Beris concava Li, Zhang & Yang, 2009
Beris cypria James, 1970
Beris digitata Li, Zhang & Yang, 2009
Beris dolichocera Frey, 1960
Beris emeishana Yang & Nagatomi, 1992
Beris excellens Frey, 1960
Beris flava Li, Zhang & Yang, 2011
Beris furcata Cui, Li & Yang, 2010
Beris fuscipes Meigen, 1820
Beris gansuensis Yang & Nagatomi, 1992
Beris geniculata Curtis, 1830
Beris hauseri Stuke, 2004
Beris heptapotamica Pleske, 1926
Beris hildebrandtae Pleske, 1930
Beris hirotui Ôuchi, 1943
Beris huanglianshana Li, Zhang & Yang, 2009
Beris kovalevi Rozkošný & Nartshuk, 1980
Beris latifacies Nagatomi & Tanaka, 1972
Beris luteistigma Frey, 1960
Beris malaisei Frey, 1960
Beris miocenica James, 1937
Beris morrisii Dale, 1841
Beris nebulosa Nagatomi & Tanaka, 1972
Beris potanini Pleske, 1926
Beris pulchripennis Frey, 1960
Beris rozkosnyi Kassebeer, 1996
Beris schaposchnikowi Pleske, 1926
Beris shennongana Li, Luo & Yang, 2009
Beris spinosa Li, Zhang & Yang, 2009
Beris strobli Dušek & Rozkošný, 1968
Beris trilobata Li, Zhang & Yang, 2009
Beris vallata (Forster, 1771)
Beris yangxiana Cui, Li & Yang, 2010
Beris zhouae Qi, Zhang & Yang, 2011
Beris zhouquensis Li, Zhang & Yang, 2011
Beris ziminae Rozkošný & Nartshuk, 1980
References
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