True Flies (Diptera)

Until I started taking photos, I hadn't appreciated the tremendous diversity of flies. They come in every shape and size, mimic everything from wasps to moths, and eat everything from pollen to human blood. There are approximately 25,000 described species of flies in the U.S., a few thousand less than the number of described beetles.

Tipulidae, Limoniidae, Pediciidae, & Cylindrotomidae (Crane Flies)

Ctenophora sp. (Lexington, 5/28/04 11am) Same as below? C. dorsalis is quite variable in coloration, so it could be another male.

Ctenophora dorsalis? mating (Lexington, 5/30/04 2pm) The female is the red one and the male is the black.

mating (Lexington, 6/19/04 11pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/17/10 11pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 5/26/13 5pm)

female Tipula longiventris (Lower Vine Brook, 5/28/11 1pm)

(Lexington, 6/24/04 1am) The color is off on the close-up of the antennae, but this is a sharper picture of the antennae structure.

(Lower Vine Brook, 5/27/12 11pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 5/27/12 11pm)

(Whipple Hill, 5/26/14 12pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 5/29/2023 1pm)

(Willard's Woods, 5/27/2023 5pm)

Ptychopteridae (Phantom Crane Flies)

Bittacomorpha clavipes (Phantom Crane Fly) (Lower Vine Brook, 5/3/09 11am)

Trichoceridae (Winter Crane Flies)

Ceratopogonidae (Punkies, Biting Midges)

Corethrellidae (Frog Midges)

Chaoboridae (Phantom Midges)

family Chaoboridae (Phantom Midge larva) (Lower Vine Brook, 7/14/13 12pm)

Simuliidae (Black Flies)

Psychodidae (Moth Flies)

Moth fly perhaps of the genus Psychoda (Lower Vine Brook, 7/28/10 11pm, 6/28/11 10pm)

Anisopodidae (Sand Flies)

Scatopsidae (Minute Black Scavanger Flies)

Culicidae (Mosquitos)

(Lower Vine Brook, 8/17/11 11pm)

male female Toxorhynchitini rutilus (Elephant mosquito) (Lower Vine Brook, 9/1/12 11am male, 9/24/2021 5pm female)

(Lower Vine Brook, 8/25/2021 12pm)

larvae (Lower Vine Brook, 8/25/2021 12pm)

Chironomidae, Blephariceridae, Deuterophlebidae,Thaumaleidae, Dixidae (Nonbiting Midges)

female male midge, perhaps of the genus Chironomus (Lexington, 5/6/06 11pm, 6/22/11 12am)

male midge (Burlington, 4/15/00 4pm)

male midge, perhaps of the genus Chironomus (Lower Vine Brook, 4/5/10 10pm) A lousy picture of a midge with fantastic antennae.

male midge, perhaps of the genus Chironomus (Willard's Woods, 10/8/11 2pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 3/23/12 3pm) Small swarms were flying near to the ground in a very wet section of forest.

male female (Lower Vine Brook, 3/15/14, 3/16/14 4pm) Probably same as above, but better photos.

Cecidomyiidae (Gall Midges)

Bibionidae (Lovebugs, March Flies)

male Bibio lanigerus (Lower Vine Brook, 5/3/09 11am, 5/6/2023 12pm) These are extremely populous around the end of April through the first week or so in May, and then greatly diminish.

mating male Bibio sp. (Lower Vine Brook, 5/3/09 11am, 5/6/2023 12pm) Probably same as above. I'm sure I have a better picture of a female, but I didn't see one from the last couple of years.

(Arlington Great Meadow, 4/25/10 11am) Probably a March fly...

(Lower Vine Brook, 10/27/12 1pm) Probably a March fly...

Mycetophilidae (Glowworms)

Sciaridae (Fungus Gnats)

Keroplatidae (Predatory Fungus Gnats)

larva (Willard's Woods, 6/29/13 6pm) On the underside of a bracket fungus on a rotting log.

Tabanidae (Horse Flies)

Hybomitra lasiophthalma (Paint Mine, 6/24/10 10am)

Atherix lantha? (Lexington, 5/16/04 11pm)

(Willard's Woods, 8/23/06 10am)

Tabanus similis (Lower Vine Brook, 8/3/2013 4pm)

Athericidae (Deer Flies)

(Whipple Hill, 8/21/12 1pm)

Chrysops sp. (Deer fly) (Burlington, 7/6/00 11pm)

Rhagionidae (Snipe Flies)

(Willard's Woods, 6/19/05 4pm) I'm not too sure about this one.

Rhagio sp. (Willard's Woods, 6/25/05 1pm)

Chrysopilus ornatus (Ornate snipe fly) (Lower Vine Brook, 6/24/2023 3pm)

Stratiomyidae (Soldier Flies)

Hermetia illucens? (Lexington, 9/26/09 1pm) I think this is a fly pupa, and I was hoping to find out when it hatched, but it never did. I found it, along with dozens of others, in my compost heap.

Xylophagidae, Xylomyidae (Subcortical Flies)

Acroceridae (Small-headed Flies)

Asilidae (Robber Flies)

Dioctria baumhaueri? (Willard's Woods, 7/5/08 9am, 6/25/06 11am)

Laphria sericea (Lower Vine Brook, 6/19/11 2pm)

Laphria sp. (Willard's Woods, 7/13/13 2pm)

(Willard's Woods, 6/17/12 12pm)

(Willard's Woods, 8/23/13 3pm, Lower Vine Brook, 7/1/2019 4pm) The first photo has a tiny wasp or fly under the main subject.

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/12/14 1pm)

(Willard's Woods, 9/29/13 1pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 8/3/13 3pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 9/25/2021 4pm)

Cyrtopogon sp.? (Lower Vine Brook, 7/26/2021 2pm)

Therevidae (Stiletto Flies)

Mydidae (Mydas Flies)

Mydas clavatus? (Willard's Woods, 7/30/05 3pm) Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture that shows if it has an orange abdominal segment.

(Lower Vine Brook, 3/23/12 3pm)

Scenopinidae (Window Flies)

Bombyliidae (Bee Flies)

Bombylius major (Bee fly) (Lower Vine Brook, 4/11/10 1pm, Arlington Great Meadows, 4/19/14 11am, Lower Vine Brook, 4/18/15 12pm)

Bombylius incanus (Lower Vine Brook, 6/29/14 12pm)

Anthrax sp. (Whipple Hill, 8/18/02 12pm)

(Willard's Woods, 8/16/09 10am)

Empididae (Dance Flies)

Dolichopodidae (Long-legged Flies)

(Willard's Woods, 6/23/02 12pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 6/12/10 11am)

(Willard's Woods, 7/6/08 12pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 6/9/12 11am)

Phoridae (Scuttle Flies)

Syrphidae (Flower Flies)

Spilomyia longicornis (Lower Vine Brook, 8/16/09 10am, 8/25/12 11am, 9/23/12 1pm)

Spilomyia fusca (Lower Vine Brook, 8/28/13 1pm, 7/3/2022 1pm) The first 2 photos were perfect timing for finding this fly, just 5 days after I was stung by the wasp it mimics!

Sericomyia militaris (Narrow-banded pond fly) (Lower Vine Brook, 6/3/2020 1pm)

Temnostoma barberi? (Bare-bellied Falsehorn) (Lower Vine Brook, 6/3/2020 1pm) Could be one of the other Temnostoma.

Temnostoma balyras (Yellow-haired Falsehorn) (Willard's Woods, 5/29/2023 1pm)

Somula decora (Spotted wood fly) (Lower Vine Brook, 6/9/13 1pm)

Sericomyia lata (White-spotted pond fly) (Lower Vine Brook, 6/14/2020 3pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 6/12/10 11am)

male Sphaerophoria contigua (Tufted Globetail) (Lower Vine Brook, 7/10/2021 3pm)

female mating Toxomerus marginatus (Margined Calligrapher, Toxomerus hover fly) (Willard's Woods, 6/26/05 2pm, Lower Vine Brook, 7/10/2021 3pm, 7/19/09 10am)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/19/09 10am)

Epistrophe grossulariae? (Lower Vine Brook, 10/11/09 12pm)

(Willard's Woods, 6/2/07 12pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 9/24/12 11am) Almost certainly same as above.

Eristalis flavipes (Lower Vine Brook, 9/10/11 2pm, 5/18/2013 10am)

Eristalis sp. probably tenax (Common Drone Fly) (Lower Vine Brook, 9/23/12 1pm) This is the largest flower fly I have seen.

Blera analis (Willard's Woods, 6/10/07 9am)

Pipunculidae (Big-headed Flies)

Platypezidae (Flat-footed Flies)

Lonchopteridae (Spear-winged Flies)

Muscidae, Fannidae, Scathophagidae, Anthomyiidae (House Flies)

Scathophaga stercoraria (Golden dung fly) (Lower Vine Brook, 4/25/2020 3pm) On fresh compost.

Calliphoridae (Cluster Flies, Bluebottles, Screwworms, & Blow Flies)

(Whipple Hill, 4/21/10 2pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 10/11/09 12pm)

Lucilia sericata (Common green bottle fly) (Lower Vine Brook, 7/11/2021 1pm)

Sarcophagidae (Flesh Flies)

Tachinidae, Rhinophoridae (Parasitoid Flies)

Trichopoda pennipes (Willard's Woods, 7/15/07 2pm, 8/22/12 2pm)

Trichopoda plumipes (Lower Vine Brook, 7/25/10 1pm, Willard's Woods, 9/29/13 1pm, Wildwood Park, Burlington, 5/28/2024 12pm)

Trichopoda sp. probably lanipes (Willard's Woods, 8/21/2021 1pm)

Epalpus signifer? (Willard's Woods, 5/7/06 11am)

(Willard's Woods, 8/13/05 12pm)

(Willard's Woods, 7/11/10 5pm) Very similar to above, but perhaps browner.

(Lower Vine Brook, 4/25/09 5pm, 4/11/10 1pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 3/11/12 3pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 4/25/10 10am)

Oestridae (Bot Flies and Warble Flies)

Nycteribiidae, Streblidae, Glossinidae, Hippoboscidae (Pupiparous Flies)

Tephritidae, Platystomatidae, Richardiidae, Ulidiidae, Lonchaeidae, Pallopteridae (Apple Maggots, Gall Flies)

Eutreta noveboracensis (Lower Vine Brook, 6/20/09 10am, 8/26/12 2pm)

Callopistromyia sp. (Peacock fly) (Lower Vine Brook, 6/4/11 10am)

Rivellia sp. (Parker Meadow, 6/22/10 10am)

Trupanea sp. (Willard's Woods, 10/8/11 2pm)

Icterica seriata (Willard's Woods, 8/17/03 12pm)

Delphinia picta (Picture-winged fly) (Lower Vine Brook, 6/10/2020 1pm)

Drosophilidae, Diastatidae, Camillidae, Chyromyidae (Fruit Flies, Spittle Suckers, Fungus Flies, Mystery Flies)

Ephydridae (Shore Flies)

Chloropidae, Anthomyzidae, Opomyzidae (Eye Flies and Grass Flies)

Chlorops sp. (Lower Vine Brook, 6/22/13 10am)

Milichiidae, Braulidae, Carnidae (Kleptoparasitic Flies, Ectoparasitic Flies)

(Willard's Woods, 8/22/12 3pm) This is a guess, but the Milichiidae are known to be attracted to bees killed by spiders and other insects.

Desmometopa sp. (Lower Vine Brook, 7/19/2020 12pm) Many of the photos show the flies "bubbling".

Agromyzidae, Psilidae, Tanypezidae, Strongylophthalmyiidae (Leaf, Stem, & Root Miner Flies)

(Willard's Woods, 6/22/11 10am)

Chamaemyiidae, Cremifaniidae, Lauxaniidae (Silver Flies, Aphid Killers, Dead Leaf Miner Flies)

Sciomyzidae, Dryomyzidae (Snail Killers)

Conopidae, Stylogastridae, Pyrgotidae, Cryptochetidae (Killer acalyptrates)

Physocephala sp. (Willards Woods, 7/15/07 2pm, Lower Vine Brook, 7/17/10 2pm)

Micropezidae (Stilt-legged Flies)

Clusiidae, Piophilidae, Diopsidae (Head-butting Flies, Head Measuring Flies)

Aulacigastridae, Odiniidae, Periscelididae, Asteiidae, Acartophthalmidae

Heleomyzidae, Curtonotidae

Coelopidae, Sepsidae, Canacidae, Tethinidae (Wrack Flies)

Sphaeroceridae

Unidentified to Family Level

(Willard's Woods, 7/19/2020 12pm) I am not 100% certain now that these are the same 2 flies.

(Meagherville, 5/5/12 5pm)

(Willard's Woods, 7/2/06 10am)

(Willard's Woods, 7/23/06 12pm)

(Dunback Meadow, 7/18/09 2pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 9/24/12 11am)

(Lower Vine Brook, 9/23/12 1pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 9/23/12 1pm) Probably a flower fly.

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/15/10 11pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 9/8/12 12pm, 9/1/12 12pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/10/11 11pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 11/20/09 10pm) In the compost pile on a pumpkin.

(Lexington, 5/17/06 11pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 8/9/08 4pm)

(Lexington, 5/6/06 11pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 3/20/10 2pm)

(Arlington Great Meadows, 4/24/10 11am)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/12/10 10pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/12/10 10pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/6/12 1pm) This could be a wasp. It is too small for me to be able to tell with the equipment that I have.

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/6/12 1pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/3/13 11am)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/3/13 3pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 5/11/13 10am)

(Lower Vine Brook, 9/14/13 2pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 5/11/13 10am)

female male (Whipple Hill, 5/26/14 11am)

(Whipple Hill, 5/5/13 1pm)

(Whipple Hill, 5/5/13 1pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 9/14/13 2pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 9/12/13 12pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 9/7/13 12pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 9/28/13 11am)

(Lower Vine Brook, 10/12/13 12pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 10/12/13 12pm) It was covered with more white fluff before I caught it.

(Lower Vine Brook, 4/12/14 11am)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/12/14 1pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/12/14 1pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 6/29/14 12pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 5/24/14 12pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/19/14 11am)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/19/14 11am)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/20/14 2pm)

(Parker Meadow, 8/2/2014 4pm)

(Willard's Woods, 8/9/14 12pm)

(Whipple Hill, 8/16/14 11am)

(Whipple Hill, 8/16/14 11am)

(Lower Vine Brook, 8/10/14 11am)

(Willard's Woods, 5/29/15 11am)

(Lower Vine Brook, 4/12/15 1pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 4/20/2020 3pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 4/18/15 12pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 5/9/15 4pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 4/12/15 1pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/7/13 2pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 8/2/15 5pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/5/2021 3pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 10/12/13 12pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 7/27/2021 1pm)

(Lower Vine Brook, 6/25/2023 12pm)

larva on honeysuckle (Lower Vine Brook, 6/4/10 10am)

(Lower Vine Brook, 3/18/12 3pm) In a rotting log.

larva in water (Willard's Woods, 4/10/10 5pm)

Identification & Links