Flies
Order Diptera
368 speciesCharacterized by having only two wings, with the hindwings reduced to halteres used for balance. Diptera includes mosquitoes, gnats, midges, and true flies.
Species in this Order
Dotted Bee Fly
Bombylius discolor
A spring-flying bee fly distinguished from its commoner relative by spotted wings and a darker fur c...
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 buz...
Eastern Calligrapher
Toxomerus geminatus
A tiny hoverfly with intricate black calligraphic markings on a yellow abdomen. It is one of the mos...
Eastern Net-Winged Midge
Blepharicera tenuipes
A net-winged midge whose larvae cling to rocks in the fastest torrents using ventral suction discs. ...
Eastern Tree Hole Mosquito
Aedes triseriatus
A forest mosquito that breeds in water-filled tree holes and discarded tires. It is the primary vect...
Elephant Mosquito
Toxorhynchites rutilus
A large, iridescent blue-green mosquito whose adults do not bite. Larvae are predators of other mosq...
Elephant Stomach Bot Fly
Cobboldia elephantis
A rare bot fly whose larvae develop in the stomachs of Asian elephants. Females lay eggs around the ...
Eupeodes Hoverfly
Eupeodes corollae
A common small hoverfly with variable yellow comma-shaped markings on the abdomen. It is a migratory...
European Cherry Fruit Fly
Rhagoletis cerasi
A small black fly with distinctive wing banding that infests sweet and sour cherries. Larvae feed in...
European Malaria Mosquito
Anopheles atroparvus
A medium-sized Anopheles mosquito that was the principal malaria vector in northern Europe before th...
European Thick-headed Fly
Myopa buccata
A small reddish-brown conopid fly with a distinctively swollen face and downward-curving proboscis. ...
Eye Gnat
Liohippelates pusio
A tiny, shiny black fly attracted to eye and wound secretions of humans and animals. It is a suspect...
Face Fly
Musca autumnalis
A non-biting muscid fly that feeds on secretions around the eyes and nose of cattle. It is a mechani...
False Stable Fly
Muscina stabulans
A robust fly resembling a large house fly with reddish-yellow patches at the wing base. Larvae can b...
Farmyard Midge
Culicoides nubeculosus
A tiny biting midge that breeds in mud contaminated by dung or sewage. Adults suck blood from horses...
Fever Fly
Dilophus febrilis
A small, shiny black march fly with spiny front tibiae used for digging. It was once believed to cau...
Flat-footed Fly
Lindneromyia dorsalis
A tiny fly that runs in circles on leaf surfaces during its courtship display....
Flat-footed Scuttle Fly
Metopina oligoneura
A minute brown phorid fly with broad flattened tarsi and reduced wing venation. It is associated wit...
Fleck-winged Hoverfly
Dasysyrphus albostriatus
A woodland hoverfly with white crescent markings on a dark abdomen. It is one of the earliest hoverf...
Flesh Fly
Sarcophaga carnaria
A large gray fly with three black longitudinal stripes on the thorax and a checkered abdomen. Unlike...
Fleshfly (Dux)
Sarcophaga dux
A large gray flesh fly common across tropical Asia and the Pacific that is an important cause of wou...
Frit Fly
Oscinella frit
A tiny fly that is a major pest of oat crops and ryegrass. Larvae bore into plant stems causing 'dea...
Fruit Fly
Drosophila melanogaster
The most studied organism in genetics. Six Nobel Prizes have been awarded for research on this tiny ...
Fusca Tsetse Fly
Glossina fusca
A large, dark-colored tsetse fly that inhabits dense forest environments. It feeds primarily on wild...
Fuscipes Tsetse Fly
Glossina fuscipes
A small riverine tsetse fly that is the major vector of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in Central and ...
Gallinipper Mosquito
Psorophora ciliata
One of the largest mosquitoes in North America, with shaggy legs covered in dark and pale scales. It...
Giant Crane Fly
Tipula maxima
The largest European crane fly, with marbled wings spanning up to 65 mm. Larvae develop in wet leaf ...
Giant Eastern Crane Fly
Pedicia albivitta
A large crane fly with long delicate legs and white-banded wing markings found near forest streams. ...
Giant Net-Winged Midge
Bibiocephala grandis
The largest net-winged midge in North America, found in powerful western mountain torrents. Larvae h...
Giant Robber Fly
Promachus fitchii
A large, bristly predatory fly with powerful grasping legs and a sharp proboscis. It ambushes prey i...
Giant Tachinid Fly
Tachina grossa
The largest tachinid fly in Europe, covered in dense black bristles. It parasitizes large moth cater...
Giant Western Crane Fly
Holorusia hespera
North America's largest crane fly with a wingspan approaching 80 mm. It inhabits mossy stream banks ...
Giant Wood Hoverfly
Temnostoma vespiforme
A large, wasp-mimicking hoverfly with yellow and black banding and a slender waist. Its larvae devel...
Glacier Black Fly
Prosimulium alpestre
A small black fly whose larvae develop in fast-flowing alpine streams. Adults are among the earliest...
Glacier Midge
Diamesa steinboecki
A remarkable midge that completes its entire life cycle in glacial streams at temperatures near 0C. ...
Globular Tachinid
Gymnosoma rotundatum
A distinctive round-bodied parasitic fly colored bright orange-red with black markings. Parasitizes ...
Glossina Austeni Tsetse Fly
Glossina austeni
A small, dark-colored tsetse fly found in coastal forests and thickets of East Africa. It is a vecto...
Golden Dung Fly
Scathophaga stercoraria
A common furry yellow fly that gathers on fresh cow dung to mate and hunt....
Golden Tachinid Fly
Archytas marmoratus
A large bristly parasitic fly with golden-brown hairs found across the Americas. It parasitizes army...
Golden-backed Snipe Fly
Chrysopilus thoracicus
A striking fly with golden thoracic hairs and dark wings that rests head-down on foliage. Larvae are...
Golden-belted Tachinid
Ectophasia crassipennis
A colorful parasitic fly with golden-yellow markings and dark wing patches. Parasitizes shieldbugs a...
Golden-tabbed Robber Fly
Choerades marginatus
A large bristly brown robber fly with golden hair tufts that ambushes prey from sunny perches on log...
Golden-tailed Hoverfly
Chrysotoxum cautum
A wasp-mimicking hoverfly with bold yellow and black bands and long antennae. It flies with a distin...
Golubatz Fly
Simulium colombaschense
A historically devastating European black fly named after the Serbian town of Golubac. Larvae develo...
Great Pied Hoverfly
Volucella bombylans
A furry hoverfly that exists in multiple colour forms, each mimicking a different bumblebee species....
Greater Bee Fly
Bombylius canescens
A pale greyish bee fly with a long proboscis and clear wings. It parasitizes ground-nesting bees in ...
Green Bottle Fly
Lucilia sericata
A brilliant metallic green fly with large red compound eyes. Medically, its sterile larvae are used ...
Green Chironomid
Tanytarsus pallidicornis
A small greenish midge common in clean flowing water habitats. Larvae build portable silk tubes atta...
Greenhead Horse Fly
Tabanus nigrovittatus
A coastal salt marsh horse fly with bright green eyes. It is the most abundant biting fly along the ...
Gypsy Moth Tachinid
Compsilura concinnata
A parasitic fly introduced to North America from Europe to control gypsy moths. It has an extremely ...
Hairy Maggot Blow Fly
Chrysomya rufifacies
A blow fly whose larvae have distinctive fleshy projections giving them a hairy appearance. Its pred...
Hanging Thief Robber Fly
Diogmites platypterus
A slender, elongate robber fly that hangs from vegetation by its front legs while feeding. It has lo...
Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Grimshawi)
Drosophila grimshawi
One of the iconic Hawaiian picture-wing Drosophila, distinguished by elaborate dark patterning on it...
Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Heteroneura)
Drosophila heteroneura
A remarkable Hawaiian picture-wing fly famous for its hammer-shaped head, found only on Hawaii Islan...
Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Silvestris)
Drosophila silvestris
A Hawaiian picture-wing fly closely related to D. heteroneura but with a normally shaped head. It is...
Heath Bee Fly
Bombylius minor
A small, late-summer bee fly with greyish fur and clear wings. Its larvae parasitize solitary wasps ...
Heineken Hoverfly
Rhingia campestris
An unmistakable hoverfly with a long, beak-like snout used to reach nectar in tubular flowers. It ha...
Hessian Fly
Mayetiola destructor
A tiny dark gall midge that is one of the most destructive pests of wheat and barley worldwide. Adul...
High-altitude Hover Fly
Platycheirus alpinus
A small hover fly with flattened front legs, found in alpine and arctic habitats. It is an important...
High-altitude Midge
Diamesa latitarsis
A small, dark midge whose larvae inhabit the coldest alpine streams. It has unusually broad tarsi ad...
Horn Fly
Haematobia irritans
A small blood-feeding fly that spends almost its entire life on cattle. It clusters at the base of h...
Horn-faced Marsh Fly
Dictya umbrarum
A small yellowish marsh fly with patterned wings and prominent facial ridges. Larvae feed on decompo...
Hornet Hoverfly
Volucella zonaria
Europe's largest hoverfly and a convincing hornet mimic with bold yellow-and-brown banding. Its larv...
Hornet Robber Fly
Asilus crabroniformis
Europe's largest robber fly, a hornet mimic with a yellow-and-brown body that hunts dung beetles on ...
Horse Fly
Tabanus bovinus
A large, stout fly with huge iridescent compound eyes that display rainbow patterns. Only females bi...
Horse Stomach Bot Fly
Gasterophilus intestinalis
A bee-like fly that glues eggs to horse leg hairs where they are ingested during grooming. Larvae at...
Hover Fly
Syrphus ribesii
A bright yellow and black banded hoverfly that is an excellent wasp mimic. It hovers motionless in s...
Hoverfly
Episyrphus balteatus
Excellent Batesian mimics of wasps and bees. Important pollinators often overlooked. Can hover perfe...
Hump-backed Fly
Megaselia scalaris
A tiny scuttle fly with a distinctly humped thorax that breeds in an extraordinary range of organic ...
Indian Sand Fly
Phlebotomus argentipes
A tiny, hairy fly with a distinctive humpbacked appearance and large, upturned wings held erect at r...
Indian Tse Tse-like Fly
Hippobosca maculata
A flattened, leathery ectoparasitic fly that feeds on the blood of horses, cattle, and dogs. It has ...
Inland Floodwater Mosquito
Aedes vexans
One of the most widespread and abundant mosquitoes globally, with a brownish body and narrow white b...
Intermedia Sandfly
Lutzomyia intermedia
A tiny sandfly found in southeastern Brazil that is a major vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Atl...
Japanese Beetle Tachinid
Istocheta aldrichi
A parasitic fly introduced from Japan to North America specifically for Japanese beetle control. Fem...
Japanese Encephalitis Mosquito
Culex tritaeniorhynchus
A medium-sized brownish mosquito with a pale band on the proboscis that is the primary vector of Jap...
Japanese Robber Fly
Cophinopoda chinensis
A large East Asian robber fly with powerful raptorial legs. It preys on cicadas and large beetles in...
Japanese Soldier Fly
Ptecticus tenebrifer
A slender soldier fly with a metallic greenish-black body and elongate antennae. It is commonly foun...
Kite-tailed Robber Fly
Tolmerus atricapillus
A common grey robber fly with a slightly club-shaped abdomen. It is widespread across Europe, freque...
Korean Malaria Mosquito
Anopheles sinensis
A medium-sized mosquito with spotted wings that breeds in rice paddies across East Asia. It is a vec...
Latrine Fly
Fannia scalaris
A small fly that breeds in excrement and decaying organic matter in latrines and drains. It can caus...
Lesser Cattle Grub
Hypoderma lineatum
A hairy, bee-like fly slightly smaller than H. bovis, whose larvae also parasitize cattle. Unlike H....
Lesser House Fly
Fannia canicularis
A small greyish fly often seen flying in circles beneath ceiling lights indoors. It breeds in decayi...
Leucozona Hoverfly
Leucozona leucorum
A distinctive hoverfly with a white-banded abdomen found visiting flowers in damp woodland clearings...
Log Miner Midge
Stenochironomus hilaris
A wood-mining chironomid whose larvae bore into submerged decaying logs in streams. Larvae create vi...
Long Hoverfly
Sphaerophoria scripta
A small, elongated hoverfly with a slender yellow-and-black striped abdomen. Males have an abdomen l...
Long-legged Fly
Dolichopus ungulatus
A small, slender fly with a brilliant metallic green body and long, thin legs. Males have modified l...
Long-Palped Crane Fly
Dicranota bimaculata
A short-bodied crane fly whose predatory larvae inhabit gravel beds of clean streams. Larvae are act...
Long-snouted March Fly
Bibio lanigerus
A robust, hairy black march fly with a woolly thorax and relatively large body for the family. Adult...
Long-tailed Dance Fly
Rhamphomyia longicauda
A small dark fly where females inflate their legs with air to appear larger during mating swarms. Ma...
Long-winged Fungus Gnat
Macrocera stigma
A delicate fungus gnat with unusually long antennae and slender patterned wings. It is often found i...
Longipalpis Sandfly
Lutzomyia longipalpis
A small, pale-brown sandfly that is the most important vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Ameri...
Louse Fly
Hippobosca equina
A flattened bloodsucking fly parasite of horses and cattle with powerful clawed legs for clinging to...
Lovebug
Plecia nearctica
A small black march fly famous for flying in mated pairs connected end to end for days. Massive swar...
Lutzomyia Sand Fly (Whitmani)
Lutzomyia whitmani
A small sandfly that is the major vector of Leishmania braziliensis, which causes mucocutaneous leis...
Maculipennis Complex Mosquito
Anopheles maculipennis
A medium-sized mosquito that is the type species of a complex of at least eight sibling species acro...
Mango Fruit Fly
Ceratitis cosyra
A small, colorful fly with patterned wings that is one of the most destructive pests of mangoes in E...
March Fly
Bibio marci
A common black fly that swarms in large numbers around Saint Marks Day in April....
Maritime Long-legged Fly
Aphrosylus praedator
A specialized marine intertidal fly that hunts on wave-splashed rocks and barnacles. It has a metall...
Marmalade Hoverfly
Episyrphus balteatus balteatus
A common hoverfly with distinctive double black bands on an orange abdomen. One of the most effectiv...