Flies
Order Diptera
Characterized 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 (112)
American Horse Fly
Tabanus americanus
One of the largest horse flies in North America with a dark brown body and conspicuous green or purp...
Antarctic Midge
Belgica antarctica
The only insect endemic to Antarctica and the continents largest purely terrestrial animal at 2-6 mm...
Apple Maggot Fly
Rhagoletis pomonella
A fruit fly pest whose larvae tunnel through apple flesh causing brown trails. It is a textbook exam...
Balloon Dance Fly
Hilara maura
A dance fly famous for its elaborate mating ritual in which males present silk-wrapped prey gifts to...
Banana Stalk Fly
Telostylinus angusticollis
A slender long-legged fly from Australia whose body size depends on larval nutrition. Larger males p...
Bat Fly
Nycteribia kolenatii
A wingless spider-like fly that lives exclusively as an ectoparasite on bats. Its legs are adapted f...
Bat Fly
Penicillidia conspicua
A bizarre wingless fly that lives exclusively as an ectoparasite on bats. It has lost its wings enti...
Batman Hoverfly
Myathropa florea
A wasp-mimicking hoverfly with a distinctive bat-shaped marking on its thorax, earning it the nickna...
Bearded Robber Fly
Machimus atricapillus
A common European robber fly with a prominent mystax (facial beard) of bristles that protect its fac...
Bee Fly
Bombylius major
A fuzzy bee mimic with a long fixed proboscis used for hovering in front of flowers to drink nectar....
Bee Killer Robber Fly
Mallophora bomboides
A large fuzzy robber fly that closely resembles a bumble bee in both appearance and buzzing flight. ...
Belkin's Dune Tabanid Fly
Brennania belkini
A rare horse fly known only from the El Segundo sand dunes in Los Angeles County. Larvae develop in ...
Biting Midge
Culicoides impunctatus
A tiny, gray, blood-sucking fly notorious in Scotland and Scandinavia as the Highland midge. Swarms ...
Black Horse Fly
Tabanus atratus
A very large entirely black horse fly and one of the biggest flies in North America. Females are per...
Black Soldier Fly
Hermetia illucens
A large, wasp-like fly with a shiny black body and translucent areas on the abdomen. Its larvae are ...
Black-Tailed Deer Fly
Chrysops niger
A small dark deer fly with mostly blackened wings and green iridescent eyes. It is an aggressive day...
Blue Bottle Fly
Calliphora vomitoria
A large, metallic blue fly with a loud buzzing flight and prominent bristly body. It is one of the f...
Bot Fly
Dermatobia hominis
Parasitic fly whose larvae develop under the skin of mammals including humans. Female captures a mos...
Bot Fly
Cuterebra fontinella
A robust bot fly whose larvae develop under the skin of mice and voles....
Brine Fly
Ephydra hians
A fly that thrives in the extremely alkaline waters of Mono Lake....
Bristly Tachinid
Epalpus signifer
A bristly gray parasitic fly found across North America. It parasitizes a wide range of caterpillars...
Caterpillar Tachinid
Lydella thompsoni
A small gray parasitic fly that attacks European corn borer larvae. It was introduced to North Ameri...
Cheese Skipper
Piophila casei
A small fly whose larvae infest stored cheese, cured meats, and other protein-rich foods. Larvae can...
Cluster Fly
Pollenia rudis
A medium-sized, dark gray fly with golden-brown hairs on the thorax. In autumn, it gathers in large ...
Coffin Fly
Conicera tibialis
A tiny humpbacked fly capable of burrowing through soil to reach buried remains. It is of forensic i...
Common Crane Fly
Tipula oleracea
A large gray-brown crane fly with extremely long fragile legs that often enters homes in autumn. Its...
Common House Fly
Musca domestica
One of the most widely distributed insects on Earth. Can taste with their feet, which have chemorece...
Crane Fly
Tipula paludosa
Often mistaken for giant mosquitoes but completely harmless. Adults often do not feed at all. Larvae...
Dance Fly
Empis tessellata
A predatory fly in which males present silk-wrapped insect prey as nuptial gifts to females. Mating ...
Deer Bot Fly
Cephenemyia stimulator
A parasitic fly that deposits larvae in the nostrils of roe deer. The larvae develop in the pharynge...
Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly
Rhaphiomidas terminatus abdominalis
A large flower fly endemic to the Delhi Sands area of San Bernardino County, California. It was the ...
Dotted Bee Fly
Bombylius discolor
A spring-flying bee fly distinguished from its commoner relative by spotted wings and a darker fur c...
Drone Fly
Eristalis tenax
A large hoverfly that is an excellent mimic of the honey bee, complete with similar coloring and buz...
Flat-footed Fly
Agathomyia wankowiczii
A tiny fly whose larvae cause distinctive galls on the underside of bracket fungi. Adults perform sp...
Flat-footed Fly
Lindneromyia dorsalis
A tiny fly that runs in circles on leaf surfaces during its courtship display....
Flesh Fly
Sarcophaga carnaria
A large gray fly with three black longitudinal stripes on the thorax and a checkered abdomen. Unlike...
Fruit Fly
Drosophila melanogaster
The most studied organism in genetics. Six Nobel Prizes have been awarded for research on this tiny ...
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 Robber Fly
Promachus yesonicus
A massive East Asian robber fly known as 'shioya-abu' in Japan, capable of catching large beetles an...
Giant Robber Fly
Promachus fitchii
A large, bristly predatory fly with powerful grasping legs and a sharp proboscis. It ambushes prey i...
Giant Robber Fly
Promachus hinei
A large powerful robber fly with a bristly mustache-like mystax on its face and long grasping legs. ...
Giant Tachinid Fly
Tachina grossa
The largest tachinid fly in Europe, covered in dense black bristles. It parasitizes large moth cater...
Glacier Midge
Diamesa steinboecki
A remarkable midge that completes its entire life cycle in glacial streams at temperatures near 0C. ...
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...
Green Bottle Fly
Lucilia sericata
A brilliant metallic green fly with large red compound eyes. Medically, its sterile larvae are used ...
Gypsy Moth Tachinid
Compsilura concinnata
A parasitic fly introduced to North America from Europe to control gypsy moths. It has an extremely ...
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...
Japanese Beetle Tachinid
Istocheta aldrichi
A parasitic fly introduced from Japan to North America specifically for Japanese beetle control. Fem...
Long-legged Fly
Dolichopus ungulatus
A small, slender fly with a brilliant metallic green body and long, thin legs. Males have modified l...
Long-legged Fly
Condylostylus patibulatus
A tiny metallic green predatory fly with elaborate male courtship wing displays....
Louse Fly
Hippobosca equina
A flattened bloodsucking fly parasite of horses and cattle with powerful clawed legs for clinging to...
Louse Fly
Crataerina pallida
A wingless parasitic fly that lives exclusively in swift bird nests....
March Fly
Bibio marci
A common black fly that swarms in large numbers around Saint Marks Day in April....
Midge
Chironomus plumosus
A delicate, mosquito-like fly with feathery antennae that forms enormous mating swarms at dusk. Desp...
Midge Gall Fly
Asphondylia sarothamni
A gall midge that induces pod-like galls on broom shrubs. Its larvae develop inside swollen seed pod...
Mosquito
Aedes aegypti
A vector for dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya. Only females bite, needing blood protein f...
Mountain Midge
Deuterophlebia coloradensis
A tiny midge whose larvae cling to rocks in fast-flowing alpine streams with suction discs....
Mydas Fly
Mydas clavatus
One of the largest flies in North America mimicking spider wasps with its black and orange coloring....
Mydas Fly
Gauromydas heros
The largest fly in the world at up to 60 mm long with a 100 mm wingspan. A wasp mimic with black bod...
Narcissus Bulb Fly
Merodon equestris
A bumble bee-mimicking hoverfly that comes in multiple color forms matching different bumblebee spec...
New Zealand Glowworm
Arachnocampa luminosa
A bioluminescent fungus gnat larva endemic to New Zealand. Produces blue-green light to lure prey in...
Noisy Tachinid
Tachina fera
A large tawny-orange tachinid fly commonly found basking on vegetation in late summer. It parasitize...
Old World Screwworm
Chrysomya bezziana
An obligate wound parasite of mammals found across Africa and Asia. Larvae invade wounds and feed on...
Owl Midge
Clogmia albipunctata
A small fuzzy moth-like fly found in bathrooms and drains worldwide. Its larvae feed on gelatinous f...
Parasitic Bee Fly
Winthemia rufopicta
A medium-sized tachinid fly that parasitizes armyworm caterpillars and other crop pest larvae. It is...
Pedician Crane Fly
Pedicia rivosa
A large, mottled-winged crane fly whose predatory larvae hunt invertebrates in wet mud and stream ma...
Pellucid Hoverfly
Volucella pellucens
A large black hoverfly with a striking translucent white band across its abdomen. Its larvae are inq...
Petroleum Fly
Helaeomyia petrolei
The only insect whose larvae develop in crude petroleum. Found in natural oil seeps in California, i...
Phantom Crane Fly
Bittacomorpha clavipes
A delicate fly with swollen black and white banded tarsi that acts as a tiny parachute, allowing it ...
Phantom Midge
Chaoborus crystallinus
A nearly transparent midge whose larvae are planktonic predators in lakes. Larvae migrate vertically...
Picture-Winged Fly
Delphinia picta
A small fly with beautifully patterned wings that it waves in display like tiny semaphore flags. The...
Red-footed Robber Fly
Dioctria rufipes
A slender, metallic-dark robber fly with conspicuous orange-red legs found in European woodlands. It...
Red-tailed Flesh Fly
Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis
A large gray flesh fly with a distinctive red-tipped abdomen. It deposits live larvae on meat, wound...
Robber Fly
Promachus rufipes
Aggressive aerial predators that catch other insects in flight. Inject prey with neurotoxic saliva t...
Sand Fly
Phlebotomus papatasi
A tiny, hairy, yellowish fly with large dark eyes and wings held in a V-shape above the body. Female...
Satellite Flesh Fly
Sarcophaga africa
A tropical flesh fly that deposits larvae on carcasses and open wounds. It can cause myiasis in live...
Screwworm Fly
Cochliomyia hominivorax
A devastating parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue of warm-blooded animals. It was eradi...
Seaweed Fly
Coelopa frigida
A coastal fly whose larvae develop in rotting seaweed wrack on beaches. It forms massive swarms on s...
Sheep Nose Bot Fly
Oestrus ovis
A parasitic fly that shoots live larvae into the nostrils of sheep and goats while in flight. Larvae...
Small-headed Fly
Ogcodes pallidipennis
A round-bodied fly with a tiny head whose larva parasitizes spiders from the inside....
Snail-killing Fly
Tetanocera elata
A wetland fly whose larvae are specialized predators or parasitoids of land snails. It has been inve...
Snipe Fly
Rhagio scolopaceus
A slender, brownish fly with a pointed abdomen and spotted wings that typically perches head-down on...
Snow Crane Fly
Chionea valga
A wingless crane fly adapted to cold environments, found walking on snow surfaces in winter. It rese...
Snow Fly
Chionea araneoides
A wingless crane fly that walks on snow surfaces in winter to find mates....
Soldier Fly
Odontomyia tigrina
A brightly colored soldier fly with aquatic larvae that filter-feed in ponds....
Spotted Crane Fly
Nephrotoma appendiculata
A brightly marked yellow-and-black crane fly common across European meadows. Its leatherjacket larva...
Spotted Wing Drosophila
Drosophila suzukii
An invasive fruit fly from East Asia with a saw-like ovipositor that lets it lay eggs in ripening (n...
Stalk-Eyed Fly
Teleopsis dalmanni
Males have eyes on the tips of long rigid stalks that can span wider than their body length. Females...
Stilt-legged Fly
Rainieria antennaepes
A slender fly with banded legs that it waves to mimic parasitoid wasp antennae....
Stink Bug Tachinid
Trichopoda pennipes
A distinctive parasitic fly with a flattened orange abdomen and feathery legs. It attacks stink bugs...
Striped Deer Fly
Chrysops vittatus
A small deer fly with distinctive dark bands across its wings and bright green and gold patterned ey...
Tachydromia Dance Fly
Tachydromia umbrarum
A tiny wingless dance fly that runs rapidly over tree bark hunting for small arthropods. Despite bei...
Tangle-veined Fly
Nemestrina reticulata
A rare fly with an extremely long proboscis adapted for feeding on deep-tubed flowers while hovering...
Tangle-veined Fly
Nemestrina longirostris
A fly with an extraordinarily long proboscis for feeding from deep tubular flowers....
Thick-headed Fly
Physocephala rufipes
A wasp-mimicking fly that parasitizes bumblebees by injecting eggs into them mid-flight....
Thick-headed Fly
Conops quadrifasciatus
A wasp-mimicking parasitoid fly that attacks bumblebees in flight. The female rams an egg into a bee...
Thyridanthrax Bee Fly
Thyridanthrax fenestratus
A bee fly with distinctive clear 'windows' in otherwise dark wings, found in sandy habitats across s...
Tsetse Fly
Glossina morsitans
Vector of African sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis). Unlike most flies, females give live birth to...
Tsetse Fly (Forest)
Glossina palpalis
A major vector of African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). Unique among flies for giving live bi...
Villa Bee Fly
Villa hottentotta
A striking bee fly with dark-tipped wings and a stout, densely hairy body. Its larvae are parasitoid...
Warble Fly
Hypoderma bovis
A large, hairy bee-like fly whose larvae migrate through the bodies of cattle for months before emer...
Window Gnat
Sylvicola fenestralis
A small, delicate fly with dark-spotted wings often found resting on windows and walls. Larvae devel...
Window Gnat
Anisopus fenestralis
A delicate gnat often found on windows whose larvae develop in fermenting sap runs....
Winter Crane Fly
Trichocera annulata
A cold-adapted crane fly that forms mating swarms in winter even in freezing weather....