Chloromyia formosa, Soldier Fly

Common Name: Soldier Fly

Chloromyia formosa, is one of the Soldier Flies (Stratiomyidae) and one of around 50 UK species. This particular one is widespread and common throughout Britain, inhabiting woods, hedges, parks and gardens and is easily mistaken at first for a Hoverfly when seen resting on foliage.

The adult is a very common flower visitor especially to umbels of hogweed in mid-summer. The female has a blue-green abdomen with a violet sheen (see above photograph); in the male, the sheen is coppery-green.

The larvae feed on decaying vegetable matter in damp soil, such as rotting bark and leaf litter, and can be found around the edges of good garden compost heaps. The flight period is from May until August.

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