Sugarcane Soldier Fly
Inopus rubriceps
This record describes Inopus rubriceps (species). Recorded family: Stratiomyidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
An Australian fly accidentally introduced into the USA (California) over 50 years ago. It was first found in San Francisco, and from there has slowly spread to adjacent counties in the SF Bay area -- where it seems to be restricted to today. This fly feed on grasses, and is a moderate sod pest in California, and a sugarcane pest in the Australian area. (Eric Fisher).
Wikipedia reference for Inopus rubriceps: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inopus_rubriceps.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Family
- Stratiomyidae (Soldier flies)
- Subfamily
- Chiromyzinae
- Genus
- Inopus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Inopus rubriceps. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Diptera includes over 150,000 described species of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on Earth (CDC). Malaria alone causes ~249 million cases and over 608,000 deaths annually, mostly children under 5 (WHO). Vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infectious diseases, causing 700,000+ deaths per year.
Ecological role of the group
Despite their disease impact, flies are critical decomposers and pollinators. Hoverflies alone pollinate hundreds of crop and wildflower species. Flies are also the primary food source for many birds, bats, and fish. Forensic entomology relies heavily on fly species for crime scene analysis.
Economic and practical significance of the group
In the U.S., vector-borne disease cases tripled between 2004-2016, with over 640,000 cases reported in that period (CDC). Tickborne diseases doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 annual reports. Globally, mosquito-borne diseases cost billions in healthcare and lost productivity.
Recorded sources for this group: WHO, CDC, PNAS. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Sugarcane Soldier Fly (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Martin Hauser; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Vox Sciurorum