Soldierflies and Allies Recording Scheme

Contrary to most other lower flies, the larvae of the Stratiomyidae are not predators or parasitoids. They are aquatic to terrestrial and mainly feed on algae and rotting organic matter, in most cases of vegetable origin. The aquatic habitats range from stagnant to running water, moist rock faces, on water vegetation, marshes, saline environments along the seaside or inland. Terrestrial larvae often occur underneath leaves and other rotting vegetable matter, in the topsoil, in some cases in dung, in ants nests and below the bark of trees. The adults feed on nectar and honeydew.