| any of several flies of the family Stratiomyidae, characterized by brightly colored abdominal stripes. |
soldier fly
any member of the insect family Stratiomyidae (order Diptera), recognizable by the pattern of veins on its wings. Soldier flies may have a broad, flattened abdomen (Stratiomys) or an elongated abdomen that narrows at the base (Ptecticus). Often brightly coloured with yellow, green, or black stripes, these flies resemble bees or wasps and are usually found around flowers
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