Common Orange Legionnaire - Beris vallata
Length 5-6 mm. The Beris genus is typified by having six spines along the base of the scutellum.
B. vallata has a mainly orange abdomen. The male's wings are dark but the female's are fairly clear. This species can be distinguished from the similar B. clavipes by its hind leg tibia being part black and part orange (it is all orange on B. clavipes).
There are 6 British species in the Beris genus and these can usually be distinguished by the combination of abdomen and leg colours. See ID Aids below.
This genus of soldierflies are all of modest size with an elliptical abdomen. The abdomen is either blackish or mainly orange but without a striking pattern. They also have 6 spines projecting backwards from the scutellum. Note that flies in the related Chorisops genus have 4 spines.
There are 6 known species in Britain. It is not known if all can be found in Leicestershire and Rutland and the status descriptions are based on national records.
| Species | Abdomen | Legs | Status |
| B. chalybata | black | dull orange | common |
| B. fuscipes | black | dark with orange on tips of femora + base of tibiae | uncommon |
| B. geniculata | black | dark all over | common |
| B. morrisii | black | clear yellow | uncommon |
| B. clavipes | orange | hind tibiae orange | rare |
| B. vallata | orange | hind tibiae half black / half orange | common |
Note: as with many species there can be variation amongst specimens.
Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. If the photo doesn't show the key ID features then in the comments box describe the size and identifying characters you have observed.
Found on vegetation in moist habitats such as marshes and wet woodland
May - September
Common throughout Britain
Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Barbara Cooper
Long Clawson
11 June 2024
male
David Gould
The Spearwort Fields
22 June 2017
female
David Nicholls
Martinshaw Wood
08 July 2010
Graham Calow
Donkey Lane, Sapcote
17 June 2009
David Gould
The Spearwort Fields
06 July 2018
Barbara Cooper
Long Clawson
06 July 2023
David Nicholls
Ratby garden
06 July 2024
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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Species profile
- Common names
- Common Orange Legionnaire
- Species group:
- Flies
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Diptera
- Family:
- Stratiomyidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 21
- First record:
- 17/06/2009 (Calow, Graham)
- Last record:
- 06/07/2024 (Nicholls, David)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.
Latest images
Latest records
Barbara Cooper
Clawson Hill
08 July 2012
Graham Calow
Donkey Lane, Sapcote
17 June 2009
Barbara Cooper
Long Clawson
17 June 2018
Barbara Cooper
Long Clawson
17 June 2018
Barbara Cooper
Long Clawson
09 June 2017
Annie Smith
Knighton Park
13 May 2017
David Nicholls
Ratby
31 May 2024
