General Description
Body covered with a series of hard plates. Ring of hairs around a hole (spiracle) at the end of the abdomen. Up to 2 cm long.
Biology
Soldier Fly larvae breathe through the tip of their tail - they float upside-down at the surface, body underwater and abdomen in the air above, breathing through the spiracle opening at the end of the tail.
Distribution
Worldwide. Mainland Australia and Tasmania.
Habitat
Shallow freshwater, often in polluted streams.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Hard plates cover body, spiracle at end of abdomen.
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Diet
Omnivore
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Diet Categories
Organic matter, Algae
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Endemicity
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Taxon Name
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Common Name
Soldier Fly larva
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