About Inopus rubriceps (Macquart, 1847)
Inopus rubriceps (Macquart, 1847), commonly called the sugarcane soldier fly or Australian soldier fly, is a species of soldier fly belonging to the family Stratiomyidae. This fly serves as a host for two species of parasitoid wasps: Neurogalesus carinatus and Neurogalesus militis. The species damages pastures, oat crops, and maize crops, but the extent of this damage means it is not classified as a major pest. It is native to the regions of South East Queensland and northern New South Wales in Australia, and has been introduced to California and New Zealand. Populations of this fly prefer warm, moist climates in subtropical or tropical regions. No closely related species exist within its native range, which indicates this fly has had a long evolutionary history in that region. This species was first recorded in New Zealand in 1944, when it was found in Ōpōtiki, located in the Bay of Plenty on the North Island.
