Flies

Order Diptera

The Flies (Order Diptera) includes 6,350 species across 141 families and 1,800 genera in our directory.

About Flies

Diptera includes over 150,000 described species of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on Earth (CDC). Malaria alone causes ~249 million cases and over 608,000 deaths annually, mostly children under 5 (WHO). Vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infectious diseases, causing 700,000+ deaths per year.

Economic Impact

In the U.S., vector-borne disease cases tripled between 2004-2016, with over 640,000 cases reported in that period (CDC). Tickborne diseases doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 annual reports. Globally, mosquito-borne diseases cost billions in healthcare and lost productivity.

Ecological Role

Despite their disease impact, flies are critical decomposers and pollinators. Hoverflies alone pollinate hundreds of crop and wildflower species. Flies are also the primary food source for many birds, bats, and fish. Forensic entomology relies heavily on fly species for crime scene analysis.

Families in Diptera (141)

Species in Diptera (6,350)

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Ablabesmyia annulata

Chironomidae

Identification: Recognized by the uneven spacing of the tibial bands and the tendency of the wing spots to run together.

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Ablabesmyia cinctipes

Chironomidae

Identification: The only Ablabesmyia with more than three dark bands on front tibia. Type Locality: Miami, Florida, XII:19, 1912. F. Knab, collector.

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Ablabesmyia mallochi

Chironomidae

Identification: In the Southeast, the 5-segmented maxillary palpus of the mature larva distinguishes this species from other Ablabesmyia .

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Acanthiophilus helianthi

Tephritidae

Length 4-5mm. A green-eyed fly with a mainly grey body and pale yellow legs. A series of black dots on the thorax help to identify this fly, including a pair on the scutellum. It has quite a wide range of host plants including Musk Thistle, Knapweed

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Acantholeria armipes

Heleomyzidae

Identification: Males with a bump-like swelling on the hind tibia and 7-12 femoral spines with hooked tips.

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Acantholeria moscowa

Heleomyzidae

Identification: Male with a slight ventral swelling on hind tibia and 12-20 stout spines on posteroventral surface of hind femur. Dorsocentral bristles arising from distinct brown spots.

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Acantholespesia comstocki

Tachinidae

Identification: Distinguished from the two other species of Acantholespesia by color pattern, abdomen with basal three quarters of segments 3, 4, and 5 gray with apical quarter contrasting black. (This is not an unusual color pattern for Tachinidae,

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Achyrolimonia neonebulosa

Limoniidae

Identification: Subcostal vein extending nearly to fork of Rs. Rs long, arched portion extending more than halfway to vein M. Promiment dark spots over base of Rs, tip of Sc, tip of R1, fork of R2, along the cord, and over the distal edge of the di

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Acidia cognata

Tephritidae

6 to7 mm. An orange fly with black patterning on the wings. The larvae mine the leaves of Colt’s-foot and Butterbur making upper surface blotches. When two or more larvae mine the same leaf the affected area can be quite large. Areas where Colt’s-foo

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Acridomyia canadensis

Anthomyiidae

Identification: Muscoid fly without palps or vibrissae; thoracic bristles short.

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Acrocera bakeri

Acroceridae

Identification: Wing with R2+3 well developed, mesonotum fully black, coxae yellow, dorsum of abdomen predominately yellow with median triangles not reaching posterior margin of tergites.

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Acrocera orbicula

Acroceridae

Identification: large, round Acrocera are often mistaken for Ladybird Beetles in the field

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Acrocera stansburyi

Acroceridae

The original description by C. W. Johnson is quite informative and can be read here . Regarding size, the following quote is from pg. 400 of Sabrosky (1948): "All specimens that I have seen are of small size, only 3 mm. at most, whereas the others ra

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Acrocera subfasciata

Acroceridae

Identification: Small colorful acrocerids. This species can be told by the orange color and fasciated thorax. The lateral fasciae on the thorax extend almost to the scutellum. The male has a more triangular abdomen than the female and reduced marking

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Acrocera unguiculata

Acroceridae

Identification: The reduced venation in hyaline wings; dark head and thorax; and abdomen with vague orangish-brown spots along the posterior margins of the dorsal segments of the abdomen; and the pale squamae, legs, and coxae all point to a female A.

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Acrosathe pacifica

Therevidae

Identification: The dark brown to black setae on the head and thorax of the male is distinctive. Females are separable, from the otherwise similarly colored Acrosathe vanduzeei , by a dark brown horizontal bar on the frons (Webb 2009). For females, a

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Actenoptera avalona 0

Actenoptera avalona

Piophilidae

Identification: Yellow flies with brown on femora and tibiae, and stout spines ventrally on midfemur. Scutellum without hairs between the marginal bristles.

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Actenoptera hilarella

Piophilidae

Identification: Femora and tibiae entirely yellow and midfemur without stout ventral setae. Sides of scutellum with short hairs between the marginal setae.

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Admontia degeerioides

Tachinidae

Identification: In most of the United States and Canada distinguished from other Admontia by the nearly entirely shining black abdomen, black antenna, and incurved lateral scutellar bristles. Distinguished from similar Southwestern and Mexican speci

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Admontia ducalis

Tachinidae

This identification is tentative. The species matches the description of the Mexican species Admontia ducalis and no other species is known to have dark clouds around the crossveins.

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Admontia nasoni

Tachinidae

Identification: Arista mostly orange, first flagellomere gray, wing brown except at base and hind margin, lateral scutellar bristles parallel to and about as long as subapical. (In order from base, the scutellar bristles are basal, lateral, suapical

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Aenigmatias eurynotus

Phoridae

Identification: Shiny scutellum. Females are wingless parasitize pupae of ants (especially Formica ).

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African Malaria Mosquito

Anopheles gambiae

Culicidae

Primary vector of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. One of the most medically important insect species worldwide.

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Afrocamilla bispinosa

Camillidae

Identification: Distinguished from other North American Afrocamilla by the two anteroventral spines on the fore femur (0 or 1 in other described species) and paler color.

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Agromyza abiens/myosotidis/lithospermi agg.

Agromyzidae

The larvae of Agromyza abiens , Agromyza myosotidis and Agromyza lithospermi produce identical mines on the leaves of several larval food plants in the Boraginaeceae family, such as Borage, Comfrey and Green Alkanet. Many other host plants are known,

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Agromyza albitarsis

Agromyzidae

The larvae of the fly Agromyza albitarsis mine the leaves of Aspen, hybrid Black Poplar, other poplars and willows, forming a large greenish blotch mine which turns brown. See the National Agromyzidae Recording Scheme website for further details of t

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Agromyza alnibetulae

Agromyzidae

The larva produce a leaf mine in the leaves of Birch. The mine is an unusually long, upper-surface corridor that widens only little and winds freely through the leaf. Frass in two neat rows. See the National Agromyzidae Recording Scheme website for f

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Agromyza alnivora-maybe

Agromyzidae

Agromyza alnivora Spencer, 1969 is the only agromyzid in the world known to mine in alder leaves. It is only known to occur in the Palearctic, but similar mines in North America may be the work of the same species.

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Agromyza anthracina

Agromyzidae

The larvae mine the leaves of Common Nettle and other related host plants. The mine usually starts away from the leaf edge and has a coiled intestine like start; it has frass in long threads in the broader part of the mine. See the National Agromyzid

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Agromyza demeijerei

Agromyzidae

The larvae mine leaves, usually of Laburnum . The mine is an upper surface gallery along one margin towards the tip of the leaf, enlarging into a blotch on the other margin. Frass pale green when fresh, brownish later. The primary and secondary feedi

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Agromyza dipsaci

Agromyzidae

The larvae mine the leaves of Teasel . It produces a long mine, which rapidly broadens, at the leaf edge. The mine turns brown. See the National Agromyzidae Recording Scheme website for further details of larva and adult insect. ref.: Warrington, B.P

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Agromyza flaviceps

Agromyzidae

The larvae mine the leaves of Hop ( Humulus lupulus ) creating a long upper surface gallery widening towards the end and with greenish, diffused frass. See the National Agromyzidae Recording Scheme website for further details Agromyza igniceps has si

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Agromyza idaeiana

Agromyzidae

Larvae form linear blotch mines. The only recorded host in America is Potentilla gracilis , but in Europe is is known to feed on many genera of Rosoideae .

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Agromyza johannae

Agromyzidae

The larvae mine the leaves of Broom and related plants. The mine is hook-like, usually along the leaf-margin and running towards the leaf apex, then turning and widening into a blotch over the mid-rib. See the National Agromyzidae Recording Scheme we

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Agromyza nana

Agromyzidae

The larvae mine the leaves of various clovers and other species in the Leguminosae family. The mines have a short, broad gallery leading to a conspicuous, roundish white blotch in the centre of the leaf. The blotch is on the upper surface with some d

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Agromyza nigrescens

Agromyzidae

The larva mines the leave of Geranium and Erodium species. The start of the mine is corridor-like and usually follows the leaf margin, before widening considerably into a secondary blotch, with irregular sides. Primary and secondary feeding lines are

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Agromyza pseudoreptans/reptans agg.

Agromyzidae

The larvae of these two species produce identical mines on nettles and other related host plants. The mine is a long blotch mine, usually adjacent to the edge of the leaf, which turns black. The mines cannot be reliably separated to species level and

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Agromyza sulfuriceps

Agromyzidae

The larvae mine the leaves of various species in the Rosaceae family including Roses, Meadowsweet, Strawberry, Silverweed, Cinquefoil, Raspberry and Burnets. The mine starts as a long corridor, its initial part often along the leaf margin or a thick

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Agromyza varicornis

Agromyzidae

The larva mines the winged stems and leaves of Everlasting Peas ( Lathyrus latifolius and Lathyrus sylvestris ). The long white mine is in the wing of the stem, but often starts in leaf (though not always). See the National Agromyzidae Recording Sche

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Agromyza varifrons

Agromyzidae

Larvae mine leaves of hackberry ( Celtis ). This is the only agromyzid listed in with this host. The mine is described as "an irregular linear blotch, most frequently following the leaf margin. One empty leaf mine found at Hot Springs, Ark. . . can s

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Agromyza vicifoliae

Agromyzidae

The larvae mine the leaves of various vetch species forming a blotch, preceded by a gallery along the leaf margin. The blotch is over the midrib of the leaflet. Frass occurs very sparingly in the gallery, and in the blotch as a few large lumps. See t

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Aldrichiomyza agromyzina

Milichiidae

Identification: Costa ending at R4+5, arista with dense hair, proboscis long, thin, and jointed.

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Alfalfa Blotch Leafminer

Agromyza frontella

Agromyzidae

Larva forms a characteristic linear-blotch mine in Medicago , and less frequently in Melilotus and Trifolium . Introduced species, relatively recently. The parasite Dacnusa dryas has been introduced in NE US as a biocontrol

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Alkali Fly

Cirrula hians

Ephydridae

Identification: Three or four pairs of fronto-orbital bristles present, two presutural dorsocentral bristles present, two pairs of cruciate interfrontal bristles present, arista about equal in length as antennal segments 1-3 combined, one prescutella

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All-black Snout

Nemotelus nigrinus

Stratiomyidae

This is a mainly black soldierfly with a long black beak like snout. 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 yo

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Allium Leaf Miner

Phytomyza gymnostoma

Agromyzidae

The greyish brown flies are 3mm long and show a pale yellow band on the lower abdomen. Larvae attack Allium species, feeding just below the surface, often with several larvae on each plant. The plant becomes often becomes weak and softens due to the

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Allograpta exotica

Syrphidae

Identification: Very similar to obliqua , but the katepimeron is black and the face has often a dark brown to black medial stripe, while in obliqua the katepisternum is yellow and the face is yellow or with a light brown stripe. A. obliqua is more co

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Allohelea johannseni

Ceratopogonidae

Identification: Mesonotum dark brown with large, irregular, pruinose gray areas. Has been reared from Boletus fungi.

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Allopiophila testacea

Piophilidae

Identification: Entirely yellow except for the tarsi. Costal area fumose.

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Allopiophila tomentosa

Piophilidae

Identification: Thorax and abodmen pruinose, not glossy. Males may have 1-3 additional dorsocentral bristles anterior to the large posterior pair.

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Alluaudomyia paraspina

Ceratopogonidae

Identification: Female distinguished from other North American Alluaudomyia by the combination of wing with 12 spots, some spots in white patches, legs mottled, abdomen black with white tip but without white bands. Male identified by genital features

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Amauromyza (Cephalomyza) labiatarum

Amauromyza labiatarum

Agromyzidae

The fly Amauromyza labiatarum has larvae which mine the leaves of various plants including Dead-nettles and Woundworts producing a mine with a narrow gallery leading to a largish blotch on the upper surface. Frass is green and indistinct in the galle

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Amauromyza (Cephalomyza) verbasci

Amauromyza verbasci

Agromyzidae

The larva of the fly Amauromyza verbasci causes a blotch mine on the upper surfaces of the leaves of Mullein, Common Figwort and Butterfly Bush . The mine is pale initially but turns brown later. Frass in sizeable dispersed grains. See the National A

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Amauromyza flavifrons

Agromyzidae

The leaf-mine formed by this species is found on the leaves of various plants including Campion. A short linear mine is formed, then a white blotch mine, the linear section sometimes is not visible under the blotch that is formed later. The blotch ha

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Amauromyza morionella

Agromyzidae

The larva of the fly Amauromyza morionella mines the leaves of various Stachys and Lamium species. The frass is conspicuous in the mine and the mine is initially linear, then develops into a white blotch, often enveloping the early mine. See the Nati

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Amblypsilopus bicolor

Dolichopodidae

Identification: One of the most yellow member of the genus, with extensive yellow on first four segments of abdomen, especially sides. Coxae yellow, including on mid leg where many relatives have an extensive dark spot.

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Amblypsilopus dorsalis

Dolichopodidae

Identification: Base of antenna yellow. Usual shining color of Sciapodinae obscured by yellowish dusting. Thorax with central metallic stripe.

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Amblypsilopus psittacinus

Dolichopodidae

Identification: Wing of male with long hairs on front edge; front edge nearly straight until angular bend before tip of R2+3 (bend less abrupt or after R2+3 in related species). Females are practically unidentifiable unless associated with males.

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Amblypsilopus scintillans

Dolichopodidae

Identification: Body shining, legs long and mostly yellow. Distinguished from other Sciapus and Amblypsilopus by the combination of completely dark antennae, coxae 2 and 3 of male black (yellow or weakly darkened in female), costa of wing of normal

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Amblypsilopus variegatus

Dolichopodidae

Identification: Distinguished from other North American Amblypsilopus by combination of

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Amedia floridana

Cecidomyiidae

Identification: The combination of five normal tarsomeres, lack of ocelli, and fully developed wings with reduced venation (CuA unforked, M mostly absent or invisible) should distinguish this species from all other Cecidomyiidae.

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American Hover Fly

Eupeodes americanus

Syrphidae

Identification: It can be grossly differentiated from Syrphus rectus by a dark stripe down the front of the face. The egg is ~0.96x0.26 mm, with broken longitudinal ridges. The larva is blackish with orange markings, looks somewhat spiky. The puparia

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Americina adusta

Scathophagidae

Identification: Head, thorax, and legs largely pale with 2 black stripes on the mesonotum, a black stripe on the pleura below the wing base, and blackened tarsi. Scutellum with 2 pairs of strong bristles. A1 vein reaching the wing margin. Apex of win

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Amiota humeralis

Drosophilidae

Identification: Shiny black with contrasting white facial stripe, postpronotum, and halteres.

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Amiota minor

Drosophilidae

Identification: A brown Amiota with very faint white markings.

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Amobia signata

Sarcophagidae

A fly with a rather bluish grey chequered appearance. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the size and

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Amoebaleria flavotestacea

Heleomyzidae

Identification: body yellow; 2 strong bristles on katepisternum

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Amoebaleria helvola

Heleomyzidae

Identification: Common. Differs from the other yellow Amoebaleria in the east ( A. flavotestacea ) by its larger size and the presence of only one strong bristle on the katepisternum.

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Amphicosmus elegans

Bombyliidae

Identification: One of two species of Amphicosmus without wing markings.

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Amphicosmus vanduzeei

Bombyliidae

Identification: original description Two species of Amphicosmus lack wing markings. The male of A. elegans has pollinose stripes (lacking in A. vanduzeei ). The female of A. elegans has humeral callus and tergite 5 black (paler in A. vanduzeei ).

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Anacimas limbellatus

Tabanidae

Identification: Wing veins margined with brown, median callus of female broad and convex (Stone, 1938). Female being preyed upon:

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Anasimyia bilinearis

Syrphidae

Identification: Abdomen: Male black with white triangle at each side of segment 1, tip expanding at base of segment 2. Some faint greyish marks on other segments, or not. Female same as male on 1 and 2. Segments 3 and 4 have broken stripes not reachi

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Anasimyia chrysostoma

Syrphidae

Identification: Thorax: Both male and female have 4 wide grey to yellowish-white stripes. Scutellum black, lower margin yellowish to reddish. Abdomen: Female has thick, greyish-white curved and broken stripes on each segment, lower margin of segments

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Anasimyia contracta

Syrphidae

Wing length 5 to 7.5 mm. This species has a slightly 'wasp waisted' abdomen. Segment T2 is narrower than it is long and it has greyish 'hockey stick' shaped markings. A. transfuga has similar markings but with segment T2 parallel sided and wider then

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Anasimyia lineata

Syrphidae

This species is distinguished from all other Eristalini by its long snout which tapers to a point. Both sexes are rather dark, but the male tends to have triangular orange markings on the tergites, especially on tergite 2, whilst the female markings

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Anasimyia transfuga

Syrphidae

Wing length about 7 mm. This dark hoverfly has steeply inclined hooked markings, like a tick. It resembles other members of the family and expert help may be required to confirm identification. Widespread but local and quite infrequent in Britain.

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Anastoechus hessei

Bombyliidae

Identification: Distinguished from barbatus and melanohalteralis by the dense black hair on the last abdominal segments. (Painter, 1962) The other species may have sparse dark spines. The illustration in Eaton shows leucothrix also without the dark f

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Anisia flaveola

Tachinidae

Identification: Other species of the genus are darker. The male is additionally distinguished by the lack of proclinate orbital bristles (as usual in the family, but not the genus). Some members of tribe Leskiini are superficially similar, but they h

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Anomoia purmunda

Tephritidae

Length 4.5 mm. The wing markings are very characteristic and distinctive. The eyes are green with two transverse red bands. Wings are carried in a front facing posture. perhaps as an attempt to look bigger or fiercer than it really is. Females are at

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Anopheles crucians

Culicidae

Identification: white rings around palps (proboscis dark); apical white spot on wings - FMEL Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory - FMEL

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Anopheles pseudopunctipennis

Culicidae

Identification: palpomeres 2‒5 with pale apical bands ‒Jonathan F. Day.

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Anopheles punctipennis

Culicidae

Identification: Adult Female: wing pattern is all you need for identification. Very distinctive wings with predominantly dark scales and cream colored scales in the costal and subcostal areas. Larva: head hairs 5, 6, 7 are long, multibranched and plu

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Anopheles walkeri

Culicidae

Identification: Larva: Head hairs 5,6, and 7 are long multibranched and plumose. The lateral setae on the abdominal segments IV-VI are not plumose. Adult Female: Proboscis dark scaled and palpi have pale apical rings. Scutum is dark brown with golden

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Anthodiplosis eutrochii

Cecidomyiidae

Larvae form galls in flowers of joe-pye weed ( Eutrochium spp.). These galls were formerly attributed to Dasineura purpurea . See figure 191 in Gagné.

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Anthomyia obscuripennis

Anthomyiidae

Identification: Male with wing strongly narrowed at base and darkened at apex. Male with broad frons, as in female. Related to the European Anthomyia monilis .

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Anthomyia ochripes

Anthomyiidae

Identification: In California, the only Anthomyia with a pair of spots on crossvein dm-cu. Related species in California have a continuous dark band along the vein. A. confusa has a similar pair of spots, more dark markings near the base of the wing

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Anthomyia pluvialis

Anthomyiidae

This genus is the Dalmatian of the fly world, with a striking chequered appearance. The background is usually grey but can be brown with distinct black spots. Anthomyia pluvialis is very similar to A. imbrida and A. procellaris . Male pluvialis can b

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Anthomyia procellaris

Anthomyiidae

This small handsome fly has a thorax neatly marked with black spots on a grey background. There are other similar species and certain identification requires detailed examination, if we cannot be certain that an image is Anthomyia procellaris but it

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Anthrax argyropygus

Bombyliidae

Identification: A small dark Anthrax , with narrow wings. Kits et al. note in their key:

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Anthrax cintalpa

Bombyliidae

Identification: Very similar to A. irroratus , but cintalpa has a saucer-shaped, rather than a lenticular, second antennal segment; click on photo below for enlargement: For more information please see notes on the oedipus group page.

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Anthrax irroratus

Bombyliidae

Identification: Head: Brown. Eyes large, sometimes with white along inner eye margins. Antenna: Brown, very short, palpi-like placed low on face. Thorax: Black, often bald with fringe of long brown hair surrounding thorax. Some whitish scales around

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Anthrax striatipennis

Bombyliidae

Identification: Can be separated from irroratus , aside from its limited distribution, by the dense pattern of transverse striae on the wing (Marston 1970) A. striatipennis A. irroratus

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Apache Sandpirate

Lasiopogon apache

Asilidae

Identification: According to Rob Cannings, "The dark reddish tibiae/tarsi and genitalia, the gray-gold thorax and abdomen and the locality help determine the species. The only other Arizona Lasiopogon is an undescribed species from the central mounta

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Apagodiplosis papyriferae

Cecidomyiidae

Causes swellings in birch stems, buds, and petiole bases, containing several larvae in separate cells. Bud and stem mortality results from girdling.

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Apatolestes actites

Tabanidae

Identification: "A large, grayish black, shaggy, white-haired Apatolestes not likely to be confused with other Apatolestes ." (Middlekauff and Lane 1980) Females have reduced mandibles.

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Apiloscatopse fattigi

Scatopsidae

Identification: Male and female genitalia are diagnostic. Cook noted this species was "rare."

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Apocephalus borealis

Phoridae

Recently they have started parasitizing honey bees. PLOSone . A New Threat to Honey Bees, the Parasitic Phorid Fly Apocephalus borealis

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Apsectrotanypus johnsoni

Chironomidae

Identification: Male -- about 4.0 mm, head light. AR 2.0-2.1; eyes iridescent; eye ratio 0.7. Pronotum light. Thorax light yellow-brown, vittae not distinct; scutellum, pleura, mesosternum, and postnotum light; Postnotum with dorsal hairs. Legs light

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Archisepsis pleuralis

Sepsidae

The female has a small tubercle under the fore femur; usually femoral tubercles are a male secondary sexual character.

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Archytas apicifer

Tachinidae

Identification: Males can be separated from related species by the shape of sternite 5. Both sexes are less yellow on average than the other common species, californiae , but this is probably not reliable.