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 extant genera worldwide. Adults are found near larval habitats, which are found in a wide array of locations, mostly in wetlands, damp places in soil, sod, under bark, in animal excrement and in decaying organic matter. They are diverse in size and shape, though they commonly are partly or wholly metallic green, or somewhat wasplike
mimics, marked with black and yellow or green and sometimes metallic. They are often rather inactive flies which typically rest with their wings placed one above the other over the abdomen.