Stratiomyoidea is a
superfamily
SUPERFAMILY is a database and search platform of structural and functional annotation for all proteins and genomes. It classifies amino acid sequences into known structural domains, especially into SCOP superfamilies. Domains are functional, str ...
of
flies
Flies are insects of the order Diptera, the name being derived from the Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwings having evolved into advanced ...
(order Diptera).
The antennae have a primitive structure. A characteristic morphological characteristic of one family,
Pantophthalmidae
Pantophthalmidae (sometimes spelled as Panthophthalmidae) is a small family of very large, robust flies, sometimes referred to as timber flies. There are 21 known species in two genera in the family, all of Neotropical distribution. Superficially ...
, is the size of the body: this family includes some species that are among the largest Diptera, reaching wingspans of up to 10 cm.
Stratiomyoidea larvae live in aquatic or terrestrial habitats and are mostly
scavenger
Scavengers are animals that consume dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators. While scavenging generally refers to carnivores feeding on carrion, it is also a herbivorous feeding b ...
s that feed on organic material.
References
Diptera superfamilies
Taxa named by Friedrich Georg Hendel
{{Stratiomyomorpha-stub