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Stratiomyidae
 
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Diptera
Suborder Orthorrhaphous-Brachycera
Family Stratiomyidae
Common Name  
 
Distinguishing Characteristics
  • Body depressed
  • Integument (skin) though and leathery from network of numerous small facets
  • Head only capable of slight movement
  • Distinctive eye prominences
Additional Pictures
         
         
         
Ecology

Forensic importance, as larvae are known to inhabit human remains (1).

 

QuickTime Movies

 

Additional Links

 

Bibliography

(1) Lord, WD, et.al."The black soldier fly Hermetia illucens as a potential measure of human postmortem interval: observations and case histories" www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8113702

Merritt, R W., K W. Cummins, and M B. Berg. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Company, 2008