Soldier Flies associated with calcareous flushes
Soldier Flies are mainly small to medium flies. They are often brightly coloured, typically with metallic colouration (e.g. Sargus) or prominent yellow and black markings (e.g. Oxycera).
Many have prominent spines at the base of the thorax. Many species of Soldier Fly are associated with wetland habitats and some are specifically adapted to life within calcareous flushes. Consequently they are an important group for assessing the conservation potential of wetland sites. Within Little Wittenham Wood a series of tufa depositing calcareous flushes occurs, mainly in the east of the wood (the 'tufa stream'), but also along the riverbank.
Since 1994, Malaise trapping has been used to sample flies inhabiting the reserve's wetlands. A respectable total of 22 species of Soldier Fly have been collected from the reserve. The 'tufa stream' is a particularly important site and includes two rare species Oxycera analis and Oxycera pardalina. Other species are more typical of general marsh and pond edge habitats. Good examples are the Nationally Notable Beris clavipes and Stratiomys potamida and local species such as Oxycera rara and Oxycera trilineata. A few, such as the Eupachygaster tarsalis, are associated with dead wood.
In addition many uncommon hoverflies and crane flies typical of 'lush marsh' or were also caught. The calcareous flushes at Little Wittenham NR provide an important habitat not just for specialist species associated with tufa deposition but also a broad spectrum of woodland and wetland invertebrates.
Soldier Flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) recorded from Little Wittenham NR since 1994. Thanks to Dr Martin Drake for confirming identifications
| Species | GB status | ‘Tufa stream’ | River bank | Wood ponds | Typical Oxon Habitat |
| Beris chalybata | Common | + | + | + | Widespread |
| * Beris clavipes | Nationally Scarce | + | Wetland | ||
| * Beris fuscipes | Nationally Scarce | + | Wetland | ||
| Beris geniculata | Common | + | Widespread | ||
| Beris morrisii | Local | + | Wetland, Widespread | ||
| Beris vallata | Common | + | + | + | Wetland, Widespread |
| Chloromyia formosa | Common | + | + | + | Widespread |
| Chorisops nagatomii | Nationally Scarce | + | Wetland | ||
| Chorisops tibialis | Common | + | + | Wetland, Widespread | |
| Eupachygaster tarsalis | Nationally Scarce | + | Dead wood | ||
| Microchrysa polita | Common | + | + | + | Wetland |
| Neopachygaster meromelaena | Nationally Scarce | + | Wetland | ||
| Nemotelus nigrinus | Local | + | Wetland | ||
| * Oxycera analis | Nationally Rare | + | Wetland | ||
| * Oxycera nigricornis | Local | + | + | Wetland | |
| * Oxycera pardalina | Nationally Scarce | + | + | Wetland | |
| * Oxycera rara | Local | + | + | Wetland | |
| * Oxycera trilineata | Local | + | + | Wetland | |
| Pachygaster atra | Common | + | Dead wood | ||
| Praomyia leachii | Local | + | + | + | Dead wood |
| Sargus iridatus | Common | + | + | + | Widespread |
| Stratiomys potamida | Nationally Scarce | + | + | + | Wetland |
* indicates species strongly associated with calcareous flushes in Oxfordshire
Key to GB Status
Nationally Rare: Red Data Book species occurring 15 or less 10km grid squares in Britain
Nationally Scarce: Species occurring in 31-100 10km grid squares in Britain
Local: Species occurring in 101-500 10km grid squares in Britain
