Clitellaria ephippium

Clitellaria ephippium
Clitellaria ephippium, dorsal view
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Hexapoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Stratiomyidae
Genus:	Clitellaria
Species:	C. ephippium
Binomial name
Clitellaria ephippium (Fabricius, 1775)

Clitellaria ephippium is a species of 'Soldier Flies' (so named for the thorns that armor the body) belonging to the family Stratiomyidae.

This species is present in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, central and southern Russia, Spain and in Switzerland.

Clitellaria ephippium, male, lateral view

The adults grow up to 10–13 millimetres (0.39–0.51 in) long. The most of their body is black, with a bright red mesonotum. Antennae are no longer than the head, the third articulation of antennae is composed of five segments, the stylet of two segments. The eyes are dark and quite hairy. Scutellum is hairy and mesonotum shows two strong apico-lateral spines. Scutum has two strong lateral spines, placed between the transverse suture and the insertion of the wings. The abdomen is relatively wide. The wings are dark.

The predatory larvae of this species develop in ant nests, such as Formica fuliginosa (Formicidae).

References

• Rozkošný, R. 1998. Chapter 24. Family Stratiomyidae. Manual Palaearct. Dipt. 2: 387-411.
• Woodley, N. E. 2001. A World Catalog of the Stratiomyidae (Insecta: Diptera). Myia 11: 1-473. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden
• Charles Hamilton Smith, George Robert Gray - The animal kingdom: arranged in conformity with its organization, Volume 13 The animal kingdom

External links

• Biolib