Kauaʻi record · KCA-IA-00658
Exaireta spinigera
Open this record in the interactive Atlas
About Exaireta spinigera
Exaireta spinigera is a member of Stratiomyidae in the order Diptera. Its recorded origin status on Kauaʻi is introduced / adventive.
Exaireta spinigera (Exaireta spinigera) is documented from Kauaʻi. Soldier flies have complete metamorphosis. Larvae occur in a wide range of wet, decaying, soil, compost, or aquatic substrates, while adults often visit flowers or vegetation. On Kauaʻi, observations are most useful when they record larval substrate, wetness, adult flower use, precise locality, and voucher material. Where island-specific host, prey, breeding-site, abundance, or seasonal information is not yet firmly documented, those details should remain tied to direct specimens and field observations rather than inferred from populations elsewhere.
Exaireta spinigera is a large adventive soldier fly documented from Kauaʻi. Adults are wasp-like with smoky apical wings; larvae develop in decaying organic material.
Kauaʻi occurrence evidence: Hawaii Biological Survey records Kauaʻi specimens from Kōkeʻe and Wahiawa Bog.
The cited occurrence evidence does not by itself establish current abundance or population trend on Kauaʻi.
Life cycle
Egg; larva; pupa; adult.
Habitat
Moist soil, decaying organic material, aquatic margins, vegetation, or other species-specific larval substrate.
Food and ecological role
Larvae often consume microorganisms and decomposing organic matter; adult feeding is usually limited or nectar-based.
Reproduction
Females lay eggs near appropriate larval substrate.
Movement
Adults fly; larvae remain substrate-associated.
Ecosystem role
Decomposer/microconsumer and flower visitor depending on life stage.
Threats and impacts
Species-specific; endemic taxa may be sensitive to loss of specialized wet or forest microhabitat.
Monitoring
Record larval substrate, wetness, adult flower use, precise locality, and voucher material.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Exaireta spinigera
- Family
- Stratiomyidae
- Order
- Diptera
- Record type
- species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Present
- Origin
- Introduced / adventive
- Conservation status
- Not assessed
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal description
- Exaireta spinigera is a member of Stratiomyidae in the order Diptera. Its recorded origin status on Kauaʻi is introduced / adventive.