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)
Lispe nasoni
Lispe nasoni
Lispocephala tinctinervis
Lispocephala tinctinervis
Lispoides aequifrons
Lispoides aequifrons
Little Black Mosquito
Forcipomyia taiwana
Little Longhorn Robber
Eudioctria brevis
Little Reddish Sandpirate
Lasiopogon terricola
Little Twigsitter
Holopogon mica
Locust Fly
Wohlfahrtia pachytyli
Lonchaea ignicornis
Lonchaea ignicornis
Lonchaea polita
Lonchaea polita
Lonchaea populnea
Lonchaea populnea
Lonchaea winnemanae
Lonchaea winnemanae
Lonchoptera uniseta
Lonchoptera uniseta
Long-horned General
Stratiomys longicornis
Long-nosed Pond Fly
Sericomyia bifasciata
Long-tailed Dance Fly
Rhamphomyia longicauda
Lonicerae lonicera
Lonicerae lonicera
Loon Blackfly
Simulium annulus
Lordotus divisus
Lordotus divisus
Lordotus gibbus
Lordotus gibbus
Lordotus junceus
Lordotus junceus
Lordotus striatus
Lordotus striatus
Lotophila atra
Lotophila atra
Lovebug
Plecia nearctica
Lucilia cluvia
Lucilia cluvia
Lucilia elongata
Lucilia elongata
Lucilia mexicana
Lucilia mexicana
Lucilia thatuna
Lucilia thatuna
Lycastrirhyncha nitens
Lycastrirhyncha nitens
Lydina americana
Lydina americana
Lyre-backed Bandit
Cyrtopogon lyratus
Lysilinga aurantiaca
Lysilinga aurantiaca
Machimus adustus
Machimus adustus
Machimus antimachus
Machimus antimachus
Machimus blantoni
Machimus blantoni
Machimus callidus
Machimus callidus
Machimus delusus
Machimus delusus
Machimus erythocnemius
Machimus erythocnemius
Machimus fattigi
Machimus fattigi
Machimus formosus
Machimus formosus
Machimus latipex
Machimus latipex
Machimus lecythus
Machimus lecythus
Machimus notatus
Machimus notatus
Machimus novaescotiae
Machimus novaescotiae
Machimus occidentalis
Machimus occidentalis
Machimus paropus
Machimus paropus
Machimus polyphemi
Machimus polyphemi
Machimus snowii
Machimus snowii
Machimus virginicus
Machimus virginicus
Macrocera clara
Macrocera clara
Macrocera nebulosa
Macrocera nebulosa
Macrodiplosis erubescens
Macrodiplosis erubescens
Macrodiplosis qoruca
Macrodiplosis qoruca
Macronychia aurata
Macronychia aurata
Macrorchis ausoba
Macrorchis ausoba
Madera Canyon Hammertail
Efferia bryanti
Madiza glabra
Madiza glabra
Madrean Bandit
Cyrtopogon beameri
Madremyia saundersii
Madremyia saundersii
Mallochohelea albibasis
Mallochohelea albibasis
Mallochohelea atripes
Mallochohelea atripes
Mallophora bomboides
Mallophora bomboides
Mallophora leschenaulti
Mallophora leschenaulti
Mallota bequaerti
Mallota bequaerti
Mallota posticata
Mallota posticata
Mallota sackeni
Mallota sackeni
Mancia nana
Mancia nana
Maned Hammertail
Efferia jubata
Mangrove Chiselmouth
Andrenosoma cruentum
Mansonia dyari
Mansonia dyari
Maruina lanceolata
Maruina lanceolata
Mayetiola phalaris
Mayetiola phalaris
Medetera apicalis
Medetera apicalis
Medetera arnaudi
Medetera arnaudi
Medetera bistriata
Medetera bistriata
Medetera vittata
Medetera vittata
Megagrapha exquiseta
Megagrapha exquiseta
Megaphorus acrus
Megaphorus acrus
Megaphorus clausicellus
Megaphorus clausicellus
Megaphorus flavidus
Megaphorus flavidus
Megaphorus frustrus
Megaphorus frustrus
Megaphorus laphroides
Megaphorus laphroides
Megaphorus megachile
Megaphorus megachile
Megaphorus pallidus
Megaphorus pallidus
Megaphorus prudens
Megaphorus prudens
Megaprosopus regalis
Megaprosopus regalis
Megaselia barberi
Megaselia barberi
Megaselia fisheri
Megaselia fisheri
Megaselia globipyga
Megaselia globipyga
Megaselia limburgensis
Megaselia limburgensis
Megaselia nantucketensis
Megaselia nantucketensis
Megaselia perdita
Megaselia perdita
Megaselia sphinx
Megaselia sphinx
Megaselia ventralis
Megaselia ventralis
Megasyrphus catalina
Megasyrphus catalina
Megasyrphus laxus
Megasyrphus laxus
Meghyperus nitidus
Meghyperus nitidus
Meigenielloides cinereus
Meigenielloides cinereus
Meiosimyza discolor
Meiosimyza discolor
Melanagromyza angelicae
Melanagromyza angelicae