Aquatic Insects
Species found in freshwater habitats
200 species in this collection
African Bombardier Beetle
Stenaptinus insignis
A large, brightly colored bombardier beetle found across sub-Saharan Africa. Its yellow and dark-blue markings serve as ...
African Diving Beetle
Cybister tripunctatus
A large diving beetle widespread across Africa and southern Asia. It is one of the most common large aquatic beetles in ...
African Firefly
Luciola africana
A Sub-Saharan African firefly with a dark brown body and pale pronotal margins. It is one of the few well-documented fir...
African Myrmecophile Rove Beetle
Dorylomimus kohli
A rove beetle that lives with army ant colonies in tropical Africa, mimicking the ants in body shape. It travels with th...
African Whirligig Beetle
Dineutus aereus
A bronze-colored whirligig beetle common across sub-Saharan African freshwater habitats. It swims rapidly in circles on ...
Agonum Marsh Ground Beetle
Agonum marginatum
A medium-sized metallic green ground beetle with pale-margined elytra found exclusively in wetland habitats. It runs rap...
Alder Leaf Beetle
Agelastica alni
A metallic dark violet-blue beetle that feeds on alder trees. Heavy infestations can completely defoliate alder trees al...
Australian Diving Beetle
Cybister godeffroyi
A large olive-green diving beetle found in freshwater habitats across Australia. It is one of the most commonly encounte...
Bethany Beach Firefly
Photuris bethaniensis
A predatory firefly known from a narrow range along the mid-Atlantic coast. Females mimic the flash patterns of other fi...
Big Sand Tiger Beetle
Cicindela formosa
A large and colorful tiger beetle found in sandy habitats across North America. Its color varies from bright red to dark...
Big-headed Tiger Beetle
Megacephala virginica
A nocturnal tiger beetle with a disproportionately large head and long curved mandibles. It is dark brown to black and h...
Blue Flea Beetle
Altica lythri
A small metallic blue-green flea beetle that feeds on willowherb and evening primrose. Has enlarged hind femora enabling...
Blue Margined Ground Beetle
Chlaenius impunctifrons
A brilliantly colored ground beetle with bright metallic blue-green elytra and a velvety texture from fine pubescence. I...
Blue Mint Beetle
Chrysolina coerulans
A small, deep metallic blue leaf beetle found exclusively on mint plants. Both adults and larvae feed on mint foliage....
Blue Paederine Rove Beetle
Paederus balcanicus
A colorful Paederus rove beetle with metallic blue elytra and an orange thorax, found in southeastern Europe. Like all P...
Bombardier Beetle
Brachinus crepitans
Defends itself with a boiling-hot chemical spray ejected from its abdomen at over 100°C. The reaction involves mixing hy...
Bordered Great Diving Beetle
Dytiscus circumflexus
A large British diving beetle similar to D. marginalis but with expanded yellow margins. It prefers larger, more permane...
Borneo Firefly
Pteroptyx bearni
A synchronous firefly endemic to Borneo that creates dramatic light displays in riverside trees. It congregates in speci...
Borneo Pulsing Firefly
Pteroptyx tener
A synchronous firefly of Southeast Asian mangroves that produces green flashes in unison with thousands of others. Massi...
Brassy Willow Beetle
Phratora vitellinae
A small, shiny metallic bronze to greenish beetle that feeds on willow and poplar. Adults overwinter in leaf litter and ...
Broad-shouldered Diving Beetle
Dytiscus latissimus
The largest European diving beetle and one of the largest aquatic beetles in the world. It inhabits clean, fish-poor lak...
Bronze Flea Beetle
Altica ambiens
A metallic bronze to greenish flea beetle with prominent hind leg development. It feeds on alder leaves in wetland habit...
Brown Willow Beetle
Galerucella lineola
A small brown beetle that feeds on willow leaves and can cause significant defoliation. Has been used as a biological co...
Chinese Aquatic Firefly
Aquatica ficta
A firefly with fully aquatic larvae found in streams across southern China. It was the first species placed in the genus...
Chinese Water Penny Beetle
Eubrianax pellucidus
A water penny beetle found in southern China whose translucent larval margins allow gas exchange with the water. Adults ...
Claudius Ground Beetle
Carabus clathratus
A large bronze or coppery-black ground beetle with distinctive chain-like patterning on its elytra formed by rows of rai...
Columbia Tiger Beetle
Cicindela columbica
A rare tiger beetle known from sandy riverbanks in the Pacific Northwest. It is an agile predator that chases down small...
Colymbetes Diving Beetle
Colymbetes fuscus
A medium-sized diving beetle with finely lined yellowish-brown elytra found across Europe. It inhabits a wide range of s...
Common Sun Beetle
Elaphrus cupreus
A small, brilliantly metallic copper-green beetle with distinctive eye-like pits on its elytra. It runs rapidly on wet m...
Common Water Penny
Psephenus herricki
A small aquatic beetle whose larvae are flattened and round like a copper penny, clinging to rocks in fast streams. Adul...
Coppery Chlaenius
Chlaenius cumatilis
A medium-sized ground beetle with brilliant metallic blue-green coloring and fine pubescence covering its elytra. It is ...
Cottonwood Borer
Plectrodera scalator
A large longhorn beetle with bold black and white patterning and long antennae. Its larvae bore into the roots and lower...
Cottonwood Stag Beetle
Lucanus mazama
A medium-sized North American stag beetle found near river bottoms. Males have moderately large mandibles....
Crawling Water Beetle
Haliplus ruficollis
A tiny, oval water beetle with a yellowish body covered in rows of dark punctures. Unlike diving beetles, it crawls slow...
Creek Pacer Ground Beetle
Chlaenius tricolor
A handsome ground beetle with bright metallic green elytra, a bluish pronotum, and reddish-brown legs. It is commonly fo...
Delta Green Ground Beetle
Elaphrus viridis
A small metallic green ground beetle found only near vernal pools in Solano County, California. It is threatened by urba...
Dimple-back Ground Beetle
Elaphrus riparius
A small, fast-running beetle with distinctive cup-shaped depressions on its elytra that create a dimpled appearance. It ...
Diving Beetle
Dytiscus marginalis
A large, streamlined aquatic beetle with an olive-green body bordered in yellow. It carries an air bubble under its elyt...
Downy Leatherwing
Podabrus tomentosus
A North American soldier beetle covered in fine pubescence, found on flowers and foliage in summer. It is an effective p...
Elderberry Borer
Desmocerus palliatus
A striking longhorn beetle with cobalt blue wing covers and a bright yellow-orange base. Its larvae develop inside the s...
Elongate Paederine
Lathrobium elongatum
A very slender, reddish-brown paederine rove beetle that lives deep within waterlogged soils near streams. Its extremely...
Epomis Ground Beetle
Epomis dejeani
A beetle whose larvae lure and devour frogs — a rare case of predator-prey role reversal. The larva waggles its antennae...
Fen Rove Beetle
Stenus providus
A tiny rove beetle of wetland margins with exceptionally large eyes for a beetle its size. Uses a retractable sticky lab...
Figwort Weevil
Cionus scrophulariae
A globular weevil with checkerboard black and white patterning found on figwort and mullein. Larvae feed externally on l...
Flat-Horned Dung Beetle
Onthophagus planicornis
A small, dark tunneling dung beetle with laterally flattened horns in major males. Found in tropical Africa, it is a rap...
Fleabane Tortoise Beetle
Cassida murraea
A striking red-brown and black tortoise beetle associated with fleabane plants. Has characteristic dark markings on the ...
Florida Predatory Firefly
Photuris frontalis
A large predatory firefly found in the southeastern United States that exhibits synchronous flashing behavior. Males pro...
Giant Black Water Beetle
Hydrophilus triangularis
The largest water beetle in North America, with a shiny black oval body. Larvae are voracious predators while adults are...
Giant Swamp Leaf Beetle
Donacia provostii
One of the larger species of reed beetle, with a metallic golden-green to coppery body and distinctive long antennae. Ad...
Golden Reed Beetle
Donacia vulgaris
A slender, metallic beetle with golden to coppery-green coloration and elongated antennae. It is commonly found resting ...
Granulated Ground Beetle
Carabus granulatus
A widespread dark bronze ground beetle with distinctly ridged and granulated wing cases. It thrives in damp habitats nea...
Green Mangrove Tiger Beetle
Myriochila mastersi
A metallic green tiger beetle that inhabits mangrove mud flats and tidal zones along the northern Australian coast. It i...
Green Tortoise Beetle
Cassida viridis
A broadly oval, flattened beetle that is bright green in life, with transparent margins around the pronotum and elytra. ...
Hairy Whirligig Beetle
Orectochilus villosus
A nocturnal whirligig beetle covered in fine golden hairs that trap air underwater. Unlike other whirligigs it hides und...
Harris's Diving Beetle
Dytiscus harrisii
A large North American diving beetle found in cold, clear lakes and bog ponds. It is one of the largest diving beetles o...
Horn-headed Rove Beetle
Bledius tricornis
A small rove beetle in which males bear three horn-like projections on the head, used in combat for burrow ownership. It...
Indian Tiger Beetle
Cicindela aurulenta
A brilliantly metallic green tiger beetle with coppery-red margins on the elytra. It is an agile predator that runs swif...
Iris Flea Beetle
Aphthona nonstriata
A small blue-green flea beetle associated with yellow iris in wetland habitats. Larvae feed on iris roots underwater. A ...
Japanese Diving Beetle
Cybister japonicus
A large diving beetle native to Japan, once common but now increasingly rare. It has suffered severe declines due to hab...
Japanese Genji Firefly
Luciola cruciata
An aquatic-larval firefly revered in Japanese culture, found near clean streams. It is one of the few fireflies whose la...
Japanese Tiger Beetle
Cicindela japonica
A common and widespread tiger beetle across Japan with variable coloring from green to coppery brown. It frequents sunny...
Japanese Whirligig Beetle
Gyrinus japonicus
A common whirligig beetle in East Asia found on still and slow-flowing water surfaces. It forms large social groups espe...
Jet Beetle
Stenus comma
A tiny, goggle-eyed rove beetle that hunts with a remarkable extendable labium tipped with adhesive pads. It can also sk...
Large Elm Beetle
Oulimnius tuberculatus
A small, robust riffle beetle found throughout European streams. Adults have a distinctive tuberculate surface texture o...
Large Whirligig Beetle
Dineutus americanus
The largest North American whirligig beetle, found on the surface of streams and rivers. It produces defensive chemicals...
Lesser Silver Water Beetle
Hydrochara flavipes
A medium-sized water scavenger beetle found in still waters across East Asia. Its legs have distinctive yellowish tarsi....
Long-Toed Water Beetle
Stenelmis crenata
A small riffle beetle with elongated tarsal claws for gripping rocks in fast currents. Both adults and larvae are entire...
Loricera Bristly Ground Beetle
Loricera pilicornis
A small, distinctive ground beetle with uniquely modified antennae bearing long bristles. These bristle-fringed antennae...
Luminous Beetle of Ulu Selangor
Pteroptyx similis
A tiny synchronous firefly found along rivers in Malaysia. Males congregate by the hundreds in berembang trees along tid...
Malagasy Aquatic Beetle
Hydrophilus madagascariensis
A large, shiny black aquatic beetle with a streamlined oval body. It carries a bubble of air beneath its body for underw...
Malagasy Firefly
Luciola madagascariensis
A soft-bodied beetle with a yellowish pronotum and dark elytra, producing a steady green bioluminescent glow from its ab...
Malaysian Firefly
Pteroptyx valida
A synchronous firefly of Malaysian rivers that creates spectacular congregation displays. It is a key species for firefl...
Metallic Green Leaf Beetle
Plagiodera versicolora
A small, rounded beetle with shiny metallic blue-green to dark green elytra. It is one of the most common willow-feeding...
Mint Leaf Beetle
Chrysolina herbacea
A brilliant metallic green beetle that feeds exclusively on mint plants. Its coppery-green sheen makes it one of the mos...
Miyako Firefly
Luciola filiformis
A small Japanese firefly found on Miyako Island with a slender body and greenish-yellow luminescence. It has a limited d...
Narrow-bordered Bombardier
Brachinus sclopeta
A Mediterranean bombardier beetle with a narrow body and orange-brown coloring. It shelters communally under stones in d...
Nebria Streamside Beetle
Nebria brevicollis
A very common European ground beetle often found near streams and in damp habitats. It is active year-round including du...
Nettle-tap Flea Beetle
Longitarsus nasturtii
A tiny yellowish-brown flea beetle found on watercress and other crucifers in damp habitats. Larvae mine in plant roots....
Noterus Diving Beetle
Noterus clavicornis
A small, oval, yellowish-brown diving beetle with distinctively thickened antennae. It is widespread across Europe in st...
Okinawan Firefly
Luciola owadai
A subtropical firefly endemic to the Ryukyu Islands with a small dark body and rapid greenish flash. It is one of severa...
Oregon Tiger Beetle
Cicindela oregona
A variable-colored tiger beetle found in open sandy and gravelly habitats across western North America. Coloring ranges ...
Painted Reed Beetle
Plateumaris sericea
A brilliantly metallic leaf beetle found on aquatic plants, varying from green to blue, copper, or purple. Larvae feed o...
Papuan Synchronous Firefly
Pteroptyx cribellata
A tropical firefly with a soft brownish body and prominent light organs. Found in New Guinea, it forms large synchronous...
Pedilus Beetle
Notoxus monoceros
A small ant-like beetle with a distinctive forward-pointing horn on the thorax. Found on sandy ground and under debris. ...
Pictured Rove Beetle
Paederus littoralis
A slender black and orange rove beetle with short elytra exposing most of its abdomen. It contains the toxin pederin whi...
Ponderous Borer
Trichocnemis spiculatus
One of the largest cerambycids in North America, this prionine breeds in the roots and lower trunks of dead ponderosa pi...
Predaceous Diving Beetle
Cybister lateralimarginalis
A large olive-green diving beetle found across southern Europe and Africa. It is a powerful swimmer that hunts a range o...
Purple Loosestrife Beetle
Galerucella calmariensis
A small, yellowish-brown beetle deliberately introduced as a biocontrol agent against invasive purple loosestrife. Adult...
Rainbow Leaf Beetle
Chrysolina fastuosa
A metallic multicolored beetle with iridescent green, blue, and purple stripes....
Red and Black Rove Beetle
Paederus riparius
A small but notorious rove beetle with a red thorax and abdomen and blue-black elytra. Its hemolymph contains pederin, a...
Red Poplar Leaf Beetle
Chrysomela populi
A shiny red-orange beetle with a black head, commonly found on poplar and willow trees. Larvae release a pungent salicyl...
Reed Beetle
Donacia crassipes
A striking aquatic leaf beetle with metallic golden-green to coppery elytra and elongated hind legs. It is one of the la...
Rice Water Weevil
Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus
A small, grey-brown weevil that feeds on rice roots as a larva and on rice leaves as an adult. Adults create distinctive...
Ridged Water Scavenger Beetle
Helochares obscurus
A small brown water beetle found in well-vegetated ponds across Europe. Females carry their egg sacs beneath the body un...
Riffle Beetle
Elmis aenea
A tiny, dark beetle that spends its entire adult life underwater clinging to rocks in riffles. It breathes using a plast...
Round Sand Beetle
Omophron limbatum
A highly distinctive, nearly circular ground beetle with a domed shape and striking pattern of pale yellow with dark gre...
Salt Creek Tiger Beetle
Cicindela nevadica lincolniana
One of the rarest insects in the world, this small tiger beetle has dark olive-brown elytra with faint white markings. I...
Salt Flat Tiger Beetle
Eunota togata
A pale whitish tiger beetle adapted to saline environments in western North America. Its light coloring provides camoufl...
Say's Firefly
Pyractomena angulata
An early-season firefly with amber-orange flashes seen in spring across eastern North America. It is among the first fir...
Scarlet Minivet Beetle
Lycostomus modestus
A net-winged beetle with conspicuous orange-red elytra featuring a reticulate pattern of raised veins. It is soft-bodied...
Screech Beetle
Hygrobia hermanni
A medium-sized, reddish-brown water beetle that produces an audible squeaking sound when handled. It is found in muddy p...
Sharp-Grooved Diving Beetle
Acilius sulcatus
A medium-sized diving beetle widespread across Europe, recognized by the deeply grooved elytra of females. It is a fast ...
Shore Rove Beetle
Philonthus quisquiliarius
A small metallic greenish rove beetle found along pond and river margins in marshy habitats. Hunts small invertebrates i...
Shoreline Rove Beetle
Bledius spectabilis
A burrowing rove beetle that constructs vertical tunnels in salt marsh mud. It feeds on algae scraped from wet sediment ...
Silky Chlaenius
Chlaenius vestitus
A medium-sized ground beetle covered in fine silky pubescence giving it a velvety green appearance. It is commonly found...
Sloane's Tiger Beetle
Pseudotetracha sloaneae
A rare nocturnal tiger beetle endemic to inland salt lakes of southern Australia. It has unusually large eyes and long l...
South American Giant Diving Beetle
Megadytes ducalis
One of the largest diving beetles in South America with a glossy dark olive body. It inhabits large rivers and lakes of ...
South American Whirligig Beetle
Gyrinus ovatus
A widespread whirligig beetle found across temperate and tropical regions of the Americas. It is highly gregarious and f...
Spotted Diving Beetle
Graphoderus cinereus
A medium-sized diving beetle with distinctive mottled brown and cream patterning. It inhabits clean, well-vegetated pond...
Stenus Jet Rove Beetle
Stenus bimaculatus
A small rove beetle with bulging eyes and an extensible sticky labium used to capture springtails. It can skim across wa...
Stinking Longhorn
Aromia moschata ambrosiaca
A subspecies of the musk beetle with even more intense metallic coloring and a slightly different fragrance....
Striped Crawling Water Beetle
Haliplus lineaticollis
A small yellowish-brown beetle with distinctive dark longitudinal stripes on the pronotum. It is commonly found in weedy...
Striped Whirligig Beetle
Gyrinus substriatus
A small whirligig beetle common across Europe, with fine longitudinal lines on the elytra. It aggregates in large swarms...
Sunburst Diving Beetle
Thermonectus marmoratus
A striking yellow-and-black spotted diving beetle from the American Southwest and Mexico. Its larvae have been discovere...
Synchronous Firefly of India
Pteroptyx maipo
A small firefly known for its remarkable ability to synchronize its flashing with neighboring individuals. Mangrove tree...
Tansy Beetle
Chrysolina graminis
A stunning metallic green and copper beetle covered in tiny pits. It is one of the rarest beetles in Britain....
Thai Aquatic Firefly
Luciola aquatilis
A small Thai firefly notable for having truly aquatic larvae with functional gills. It was one of the first fireflies co...
Thai Synchronous Firefly
Pteroptyx malaccae
A synchronous firefly of Southeast Asian mangroves that gathers in large congregations. Males synchronize their flashes ...
Tropical Giant Whirligig Beetle
Dineutus indicus
A large whirligig beetle found on the surfaces of tropical ponds and slow rivers across South Asia. It forms impressive ...
Tropical Rove Beetle
Erichsonius cinerascens
A small, greyish rove beetle found in marshy habitats and pond margins. It is a useful bioindicator of wetland health....
Turk's Tiger Beetle
Cephalota turcica
A distinctive tiger beetle found on saline lake shores and mudflats across Turkey and the Middle East. Its pale markings...
Twelve-Lined Whirligig Beetle
Gyrinus minutus
One of the smallest European whirligig beetles, found in clean ponds and lakes. It is often overlooked due to its diminu...
Two-spotted Jet Beetle
Stenus bipunctatus
A small black rove beetle with two distinctive reddish spots on its elytra and greatly enlarged compound eyes. It is an ...
Water Scavenger Beetle
Hydrophilus piceus
One of the largest European water beetles, with a glossy black, boat-shaped body. Despite its name, it is largely herbiv...
Water Spinach Flea Beetle
Chaetocnema basalis
A tiny, shiny dark bronze to black flea beetle that is a significant pest of rice seedlings and water spinach across tro...
Water-lily Reed Beetle
Donacia simplex
A metallic coppery-bronze aquatic beetle with longitudinal ridges on the elytra. Adults sit on floating leaves of pondwe...
Waterlily Leaf Beetle
Galerucella nymphaeae
A small, brown leaf beetle that feeds on the upper surfaces of waterlily pads. It creates distinctive feeding grooves ac...
West African Firefly
Luciola lusitanica
A small soft-bodied beetle that produces bioluminescent flashes to attract mates. Males fly and flash while females resp...
West African Tiger Beetle
Megacephala megacephala
A large, nocturnal tiger beetle with a broad head and powerful mandibles. The body is dark brown to black with subtle me...
Whip-scorpion Rove Beetle
Paederus amazonicus
A brightly colored Amazonian rove beetle with orange and metallic blue markings typical of the Paederus genus. It thrive...
Whirligig Beetle
Gyrinus natator
A small, oval, shiny black beetle that spins in rapid circles on the water surface. Its eyes are divided in two, allowin...
Whirligig Diving Beetle
Macrogyrus oblongus
A large whirligig beetle that spins on the water surface of African rivers....
Willow Calligrapha
Calligrapha multipunctata bigsbyana
A subspecies of Calligrapha with pale elytra marked with elongated dark spots and dashes. It is associated with willow t...
Yellow-Margined Water Scavenger Beetle
Hydrochara caraboides
A large dark water scavenger beetle with yellowish margins on the pronotum. It inhabits well-vegetated ponds and is decl...
Marsh Springtail
Isotomurus palustris
A colorful elongate springtail found near ponds, streams, and marshy areas. Its color varies from green to orange depend...
Water Springtail
Podura aquatica
A distinctive dark-colored springtail found on the surface of still freshwater. It is the only species in its family and...
Striped Earwig
Labidura riparia
A large, pale sandy-brown earwig with dark longitudinal stripes, commonly found near water. It is one of the most widesp...
African Horse Fly
Tabanus biguttatus
A large tropical horse fly that transmits animal trypanosomiasis in Africa. It is an important veterinary pest across su...
African Malaria Mosquito
Anopheles funestus
A major malaria vector in sub-Saharan Africa whose larvae develop in slow-moving stream margins. Prefers shaded, vegetat...
American Horse Fly
Tabanus americanus
One of the largest horse flies in North America with a dark brown body and conspicuous green or purple iridescent eyes. ...
Aquatic Crane Fly
Antocha saxicola
A small crane fly whose larvae build silken cases on submerged rocks in fast-flowing streams. Larvae are true aquatic in...
Aquatic Snail-killing Fly
Sepedon sphegea
A slender marsh fly with a distinctly pointed abdomen and yellowish-brown coloring. Larvae are aquatic predators of fres...
Arctic Chironomid Midge
Diamesa mendotae
A slender, non-biting midge with long legs and feathery antennae in males. Larvae are among the first invertebrates to c...
Balloon Dance Fly
Hilara maura
A dance fly famous for its elaborate mating ritual in which males present silk-wrapped prey gifts to females. Males spin...
Banded Blackfly
Simulium ornatum
A widespread European black fly species complex found in diverse stream types. Larvae filter-feed from silken pads attac...
Banded General Soldier Fly
Stratiomys potamida
A large, boldly marked soldier fly with a broad flat abdomen bearing yellow lateral markings. Its aquatic larvae are elo...
Black-Tailed Deer Fly
Chrysops niger
A small dark deer fly with mostly blackened wings and green iridescent eyes. It is an aggressive daytime biter commonly ...
Blandford Fly
Simulium posticatum
A notorious black fly that causes severe allergic reactions with its bite around the Blandford area of Dorset. Females n...
Brine Fly
Ephydra hians
A fly that thrives in the extremely alkaline waters of Mono Lake....
Cold-water Glacier Midge
Diamesa cinerella
A cold-adapted midge found in high-altitude streams fed by snowmelt. Its larvae are among the first colonizers of newly ...
Common House Mosquito
Culex pipiens
A ubiquitous pale brown mosquito found in urban and suburban environments. It is the primary vector of West Nile virus i...
Common Malaria Mosquito
Anopheles quadrimaculatus
A freshwater mosquito that was the primary malaria vector in the eastern United States. Larvae float horizontally at the...
Comstock's Net-Winged Midge
Agathon comstocki
A western North American net-winged midge found on waterfall-splashed rocks. Larvae have a unique caterpillar-like body ...
Dance Fly with Feathered Legs
Rhamphomyia sulcata
A small dance fly where females have distinctive feathered or pennate leg scales used to attract males. Females inflate ...
Downlooker Fly
Rhagio tringarius
A slender predatory fly with spotted wings that perches head-downward on vegetation waiting for prey....
Drone Fly
Eristalis tenax
A large hoverfly that is an excellent mimic of the honey bee, complete with similar coloring and buzzing flight. Its aqu...
Fuscipes Tsetse Fly
Glossina fuscipes
A small riverine tsetse fly that is the major vector of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in Central and East Africa. It inha...
Giant Crane Fly
Tipula maxima
The largest European crane fly, with marbled wings spanning up to 65 mm. Larvae develop in wet leaf litter along stream ...
Glacier Midge
Diamesa steinboecki
A remarkable midge that completes its entire life cycle in glacial streams at temperatures near 0C. Represents one of th...
Golubatz Fly
Simulium colombaschense
A historically devastating European black fly named after the Serbian town of Golubac. Larvae develop in the fast waters...
Green Chironomid
Tanytarsus pallidicornis
A small greenish midge common in clean flowing water habitats. Larvae build portable silk tubes attached to stone surfac...
Horn-faced Marsh Fly
Dictya umbrarum
A small yellowish marsh fly with patterned wings and prominent facial ridges. Larvae feed on decomposing aquatic snails ...
Horse Fly
Tabanus bovinus
A large, stout fly with huge iridescent compound eyes that display rainbow patterns. Only females bite, using scissor-li...
Inland Floodwater Mosquito
Aedes vexans
One of the most widespread and abundant mosquitoes globally, with a brownish body and narrow white bands on the hind tar...
Latrine Fly
Fannia scalaris
A small fly that breeds in excrement and decaying organic matter in latrines and drains. It can cause urogenital myiasis...
Log Miner Midge
Stenochironomus hilaris
A wood-mining chironomid whose larvae bore into submerged decaying logs in streams. Larvae create visible galleries bene...
Long-legged Fly
Dolichopus ungulatus
A small, slender fly with a brilliant metallic green body and long, thin legs. Males have modified leg structures used i...
Long-Palped Crane Fly
Dicranota bimaculata
A short-bodied crane fly whose predatory larvae inhabit gravel beds of clean streams. Larvae are active hunters among co...
Long-tailed Dance Fly
Rhamphomyia longicauda
A small dark fly where females inflate their legs with air to appear larger during mating swarms. Males present nuptial ...
Maculipennis Complex Mosquito
Anopheles maculipennis
A medium-sized mosquito that is the type species of a complex of at least eight sibling species across Europe and wester...
Midge
Chironomus plumosus
A delicate, mosquito-like fly with feathery antennae that forms enormous mating swarms at dusk. Despite their appearance...
Minimus Malaria Mosquito
Anopheles minimus
A small mosquito found along the foothills and valleys of Southeast Asia, breeding in slow-moving, clear streams. It has...
Mountain Dance Fly
Empis pennipes
A predatory fly with feathery leg fringes used in aerial mating displays. Males offer prey gifts wrapped in silk to fema...
New Zealand Sandfly
Austrosimulium ungulatum
A small black fly endemic to New Zealand that inflicts painful bites, particularly notorious in the South Island's West ...
Onchocerciasis Black Fly
Simulium damnosum
The primary vector of river blindness in West and Central Africa. Larvae thrive in oxygen-rich rapids of tropical rivers...
Ornate Soldier Fly
Odontomyia ornata
A medium-sized soldier fly with a green and black patterned abdomen and a somewhat flattened body. Adults are sluggish f...
Orthoclad Stream Midge
Orthocladius oblidens
A small non-biting midge typical of cold running water habitats. Larvae build silk tubes on stone surfaces in stream rif...
Pedician Crane Fly
Pedicia rivosa
A large, mottled-winged crane fly whose predatory larvae hunt invertebrates in wet mud and stream margins. Adults are of...
Phantom Crane Fly
Bittacomorpha clavipes
A delicate fly with swollen black and white banded tarsi that acts as a tiny parachute, allowing it to float effortlessl...
Phantom Midge
Chaoborus crystallinus
A nearly transparent midge whose larvae are planktonic predators in lakes. Larvae migrate vertically in the water column...
Rain Fly
Haematopota crassicornis
A medium-sized cleg with mottled grey wings and iridescent green eyes. It is most active in humid overcast weather befor...
River Midge
Rheotanytarsus exiguus
A small filter-feeding midge that builds silken nets on submerged stones in flowing water. Larvae are among the most abu...
Sand Gnat
Culicoides furens
A very small biting midge commonly known as a no-see-um due to its near-invisible size. Despite being barely visible, it...
Snail-killing Fly
Tetanocera elata
A wetland fly whose larvae are specialized predators or parasitoids of land snails. It has been investigated as a biocon...
Soldier Fly
Odontomyia tigrina
A brightly colored soldier fly with aquatic larvae that filter-feed in ponds....
Southern Long-legged Fly
Chrysotus gramineus
A tiny, brilliantly metallic green long-legged fly commonly found on vegetation near water. It runs rapidly across leaf ...
Stalk-Eyed Fly
Teleopsis dalmanni
Males have eyes on the tips of long rigid stalks that can span wider than their body length. Females prefer males with w...
Striped Deer Fly
Chrysops vittatus
A small deer fly with distinctive dark bands across its wings and bright green and gold patterned eyes. Females are pers...
Subarctic Crane Fly
Prionocera turcica
A medium-sized crane fly with distinctive patterned wings and long, slender legs. Larvae develop in wet peatland soils. ...
Tanypod Predatory Midge
Tanypus punctipennis
A predatory midge whose larvae hunt other small invertebrates in soft sediments. Adults have distinctively spotted wings...
Tapered Drone Fly
Eristalis pertinax
A large hoverfly resembling a honeybee but distinguished by its yellow-tipped front tarsi. It is active from early sprin...
Thyridanthrax Bee Fly
Thyridanthrax fenestratus
A bee fly with distinctive clear 'windows' in otherwise dark wings, found in sandy habitats across southern Europe. Larv...
Tiger Hoverfly
Helophilus pendulus
A distinctive hoverfly with bold yellow and black stripes on the thorax. It breeds in muddy, organically enriched water....
Tsetse Fly (Forest)
Glossina palpalis
A major vector of African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). Unique among flies for giving live birth to a single larg...
Twin-lobed Deer Fly
Chrysops relictus
A golden-green eyed deer fly with distinctive dark wing markings. It breeds in peaty wetlands and bogs across northern r...
Western Encephalitis Mosquito
Culex tarsalis
A medium-sized mosquito with a distinctive white band on the proboscis and banded legs. It is the most important vector ...
White-Stockinged Black Fly
Simulium vittatum
A widespread black fly species complex with distinctive white-banded legs. Larvae colonize almost any flowing water from...
Yellow-legged Dance Fly
Empis livida
A medium-sized dance fly with yellowish legs, a grayish body, and a distinctive long proboscis. It forms conspicuous mat...
American Sand Mayfly
Dolania americana
Holds the record for the shortest adult lifespan of any insect — females live less than five minutes as adults, just lon...
Angler's Curse Mayfly
Caenis rivulorum
A tiny mayfly nicknamed for frustrating anglers who cannot imitate it on hook. Nymphs burrow in fine sediments of slow r...