Green and Black Soldier Fly

The uncommon green bands on this bee mimic are unexpected among both bees and flies.

Its resemblance to a bee is remarkable, but short antennae, round eyes, and the missing stinger help determine that this insect is a fly. The combination of a black body with green bands is unusual, so it is likely to get attention when it comes around.

Solider flies can be found in moist, wet, or damp environments. That means habitats can be as natural as an old forest with rotting leaf litter or as man-made as a waste-water treatment plant. The larva of the solider fly is a phenomenal consumer of rotting and decaying organic matter. This diet includes animal waste, rotting fruit, and decaying logs and leaves, and algae.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Diptera

Family: Statiomyidae

Genus: Psellidotus

Species: hieroglyphicus

Identifying Information

Scientific Name: Psellidotus hieroglyphicus

Category: Fly or Mosquito

Size (Adult; Length): 8mm to 12mm (0.31in to 0.47in)

Colors: black; green

Descriptors: bands; flying; buzzing; bee-like

Territorial Map

Alaska

Hawaii

Prince Edward Is.

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Territorial Reach (A-to-Z)

Newfoundland and Labrador

Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.

Green and Black Soldier Fly (Psellidotus hieroglyphicus)

The uncommon green bands on this bee mimic are unexpected among both bees and flies.