''Beris'' is a genus of

flies Flies are insects of the Order (biology), order Diptera, the name being derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwin ...

in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Stratiomyidae The soldier flies (Stratiomyidae, sometimes misspelled as Stratiomyiidae, from Greek - soldier; - fly) are a family of flies (historically placed in the now-obsolete group Orthorrhapha). The family contains over 2,700 species in over 380 exta ...

. 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.Kovac, D., & Rozkošný, R. (2004). Insecta: Diptera, Stratiomyidae. ''Freshwater Invertebrates of the Malaysian Region; Yule, CM, Yong, HS, Eds'', 798. 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.Kovac, D., & Rozkošný, R. (2004). Insecta: Diptera, Stratiomyidae. ''Freshwater Invertebrates of the Malaysian Region; Yule, CM, Yong, HS, Eds'', 802.

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 Freyr (Old Norse: 'Lord'), sometimes anglicized as Frey, is a widely attested god in Norse mythology, associated with kingship, fertility, peace, prosperity, fair weather, and good harvest. Freyr, sometimes referred to as Yngvi-Freyr, was especi ...

, 1960 *'' Beris chalybata'' ( Forster, 1771) *'' Beris clavipes'' (

Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné,#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. was a Swedish biologist and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming o ...

, 1767) *'' Beris concava'' Li, Zhang & Yang, 2009 *'' Beris cypria'' James, 1970 *'' Beris digitata'' Li, Zhang & Yang, 2009 *'' Beris dolichocera''

, 1960 *'' Beris emeishana'' Yang & Nagatomi, 1992 *'' Beris excellens''

, 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 Curtis or Curtiss is a common English given name and surname of Anglo-Norman origin, deriving from the Old French ''curteis'' (Modern French">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of Fren ...

, 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''

, 1960 *'' Beris malaisei''

, 1960 *'' Beris miocenica'' James, 1937 *'' Beris morrisii'' Dale, 1841 *'' Beris nebulosa'' Nagatomi & Tanaka, 1972 *'' Beris potanini'' Pleske, 1926 *'' Beris pulchripennis''

, 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

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2897166 Stratiomyidae Brachycera genera Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille Diptera of North America Diptera of Europe Diptera of Asia