Pachygaster atra

Pachygaster atra
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Stratiomyidae
Subfamily:	Pachygastrinae
Genus:	Pachygaster
Species:	P. atra
Binomial name
	Pachygaster atra; (Panzer, 1798)
Synonyms
	Nemotelus ater Panzer, 1798;

Pachygaster atra, the dark-winged black, is a European species of soldier fly. ^[1]

Description[]

A minute (body length 2–3 mm.) lustrous black fly with a round abdomen Body length 2–3 mm. Brilliant black. Eyes black and green. Proboscis brown. Antennae brown (male), red (apical half slightly yellow in female). Halteres brown.^[2]^[3]^[4] ^[5]

Biology[]

The habitat is deciduous woodland, on tree leaves, and bark (Linden, pine, alder, poplar), on hedge foliage. Larvae have been found in decomposed elm wood, garden compost heaps, decaying vegetation and leaf litter. The flight period is from June to August.

Distribution[]

Central and South European Russia, Caucasus. West Europe. Common.

References[]

^ Stubbs, A. & Drake, M. (2001). British Soldierflies and Their Allies: A Field Guide to the Larger British Brachycera. British Entomological & Natural History Society. pp. 512 pp. ISBN 1-899935-04-5.
^ Seguy. E. Faune n° 13 1926. Diptères Brachycères. 308 p., 685 fig.
^ George Henry VerrallStratiomyidae and succeeding families of the Diptera Brachycera of Great Britain- British flies (1909) BHL Full text with illustrations
^ 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.
^ William Lundbeck Diptera Danica. Genera and species of flies Hitherto found in Denmark. Copenhagen & London, 1902-1927. 7 vols This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

External links[]

Images representing Pachygaster atra at Bold

[1] Stubbs, A. & Drake, M. (2001). British Soldierflies and Their Allies: A Field Guide to the Larger British Brachycera. British Entomological & Natural History Society. pp. 512 pp. ISBN 1-899935-04-5.

[2] Seguy. E. Faune n° 13 1926. Diptères Brachycères. 308 p., 685 fig.

[3] George Henry VerrallStratiomyidae and succeeding families of the Diptera Brachycera of Great Britain- British flies (1909) BHL Full text with illustrations

[4] 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.

[5] William Lundbeck Diptera Danica. Genera and species of flies Hitherto found in Denmark. Copenhagen & London, 1902-1927. 7 vols This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

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