Do mosquitoes have any redeeming qualities? What stops us from completely eradicating them from off the face of the earth? What good are mosquitoes?
Diptera
- David Bradt shares his experiences as an entomologist in the US Army.
- Spencer Doepel of Ecoflys talks about the black soldier fly, its life cycle, and how to rear it.
Guides
Merosargus beameri
Merosargus beameri is a species of soldier fly in the family Stratiomyidae, described by James in 1941. It belongs to the genus Merosargus, a group of soldier flies within the subfamily Sarginae. The species is known from limited records in the United States and Mexico.
Mesembrina latreillii
Mesembrina latreillii is a large, conspicuous muscid fly historically considered to have a broader distribution but now regarded as restricted to the Nearctic Region following taxonomic revision. The species belongs to a genus typically associated with boreal forests and high-elevation habitats in the Northern Hemisphere.
Mesosphaerocera
Mesosphaerocera is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. The genus was established by Kim in 1972 and forms part of a distinct supergeneric group alongside Parasphaerocera, Neosphaerocera, Afromyia, and Sphaerocera. Members of this genus are characterized by their placement within the Sphaerocerinae subfamily. The genus remains poorly documented in public sources, with species-level information not readily available.
Mesosphaerocera annulicornis
Mesosphaerocera annulicornis is a species of small dung fly in the family Sphaeroceridae, originally described by Malloch in 1913 under the genus Sphaerocera. The species epithet 'annulicornis' refers to ringed or banded antennae, a characteristic morphological feature. It belongs to a genus of minute flies associated with decaying organic matter. The species has been documented through limited observations, with nine records on iNaturalist.
Messiasia
Messiasia is a genus of mydas flies (family Mydidae) established by Andretta in 1951. The genus contains 16 described species distributed primarily in the Americas, with species known from the western United States, Central America, and South America. These flies are among the largest in Diptera and are characterized by their elongate bodies and wasp-like appearance.
Metacosmus mancipennis
Metacosmus mancipennis is a species of bee fly (Diptera: Bombyliidae) in the subfamily Tomomyzinae, described by Coquillett in 1910. The genus Metacosmus is a small group within Bombyliidae, and this species remains poorly documented in scientific literature. Available records are sparse, with limited observational data despite its acceptance as a valid taxon.
Metadioctria rubida
Metadioctria rubida is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Coquillett in 1893. Robber flies in this genus are predatory insects that capture other arthropods in flight. The species name 'rubida' (Latin for 'reddish') may refer to coloration, though specific diagnostic features distinguishing this species from congeners are not well documented in available sources.
Metatrichia bulbosa
window fly
Metatrichia bulbosa is a species of window fly in the family Scenopinidae, originally described as Scenopinus bulbosa by Osten Sacken in 1877. Window flies (Scenopinidae) are a small family of predatory flies known for their distinctive wing venation with reduced crossveins, creating a 'window-like' appearance. The genus Metatrichia is part of the tribe Metatrichiini within the subfamily Scenopininae. Records of this species are sparse, with confirmed observations from Brazil (Piauí).
Metopia
satellite flies
Metopia is a genus of kleptoparasitic flies in the family Sarcophagidae, subfamily Miltogramminae, commonly known as 'satellite flies.' The genus contains at least 50 described species. Adult females are known to follow solitary wasps back to their nest burrows, where they deposit live larvae at the entrance. These larvae then enter the burrow and parasitize the wasp larvae or their provisioned prey. This behavior has been documented with hosts including beewolves (Philanthus), thread-waisted wasps (Ammophila), and ant-queen kidnappers (Aphilanthops).
Metopininae
Metopininae is the largest subfamily of scuttle flies (Phoridae), primarily due to the hyperdiverse genus Megaselia. Members exhibit broad ecological diversity, with larvae ranging from saprophagous decomposers to parasitoids of insects and other arthropods. The subfamily includes economically significant pests and is among the most frequently encountered phorid groups worldwide.
Meunieriella
Meunieriella is a genus of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) established by Kieffer in 1909. Members of this genus are small, delicate flies in the subfamily Cecidomyiinae. The genus contains species that induce galls on host plants, though specific host associations and biological details remain poorly documented for many species. The genus is distinguished from related gall midge genera by particular combinations of adult morphological characters, though precise diagnostic features require specialist examination.
Microcercis insularis
Microcercis insularis is a species of frit fly in the family Chloropidae, first described by Malloch in 1914. It belongs to the subfamily Oscinellinae and tribe Oscinellini. As with other members of Chloropidae, this species is likely associated with grassland or agricultural habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The genus Microcercis is part of a diverse group of small flies commonly known as frit flies or grass flies.
Microcercis johanni
Microcercis johanni is a species of frit fly in the family Chloropidae, described by Foster in 2024. The genus Microcercis belongs to the tribe Oscinellini, a group of small dipterans commonly associated with grasses and sedges. As a recently described species, detailed biological information remains limited. The species epithet honors an individual named Johann.
Microchrysa
soldierfly
Microchrysa is a genus of soldier flies in the family Stratiomyidae, subfamily Sarginae. The genus was established by Loew in 1855 and contains approximately 40 described species distributed across multiple continents. Historical taxonomic confusion with the synonym Chrysomyia (Macquart, 1834) has led to misidentifications, particularly with blow flies in the genus Chrysomya. The genus is well-represented in citizen science observations with over 7,500 records.
Microdon
Ant Flies
Microdon is a genus of hover flies (Syrphidae) in the subfamily Microdontinae, containing approximately 249 species worldwide with greatest diversity in the tropics. The genus is notable for its myrmecophilous lifestyle: adults remain near ant colonies rather than visiting flowers, and larvae develop inside ant nests. Adults are morphologically atypical for hover flies—sedentary, robust, very hairy, and often bee-like in appearance. Larvae are dome-shaped, slug-like, and slow-moving, with spiracles on a peg-like posterior protuberance. The genus has historically served as a catch-all for unrelated species, and ongoing taxonomic revision is expected to reassign many species to other genera.
Microdon tristis
Long-horned Ant Fly
Microdon tristis is a syrphid fly in the subfamily Microdontinae, commonly known as the Long-horned Ant Fly. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in wing venation and facial structure. Adults are characterized by distinctive bronze-black coloration with greenish and purplish metallic reflections, and are associated with ant colonies as larvae.
Micromyini
wood midges
Micromyini is a tribe of small, delicate flies commonly known as wood midges, classified within the family Cecidomyiidae. The tribe comprises approximately 9 genera and at least 30 described species. These insects are part of the diverse gall midge group, though their specific biology remains poorly documented compared to other cecidomyiid tribes.
Micropeza compar
Micropeza compar is a species of stilt-legged fly (family Micropezidae) described by Cresson in 1938. The genus Micropeza is characterized by extremely long, slender legs and a distinctive elongated body form. Members of this family are commonly known as stilt-legged flies or thread-legged flies due to their remarkable limb proportions. M. compar is one of numerous species within this diverse genus of acalyptrate flies.
Micropezidae
stilt-legged flies
Micropezidae is a family of acalyptrate muscoid flies comprising approximately 500 species in 50 genera and five subfamilies. Commonly called stilt-legged flies, they are distinguished by extraordinarily elongated middle and hind legs, with markedly smaller fore legs. Adults range from 3–16 mm and exhibit remarkable mimicry of ants, wasps, and ichneumonid wasps. The family is most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly the Neotropics, and is absent from New Zealand and Macquarie Island. Larval biology remains poorly known, with development occurring in decaying vegetation, manure, fungi, and in some species, living plant roots.
Microphorinae
Microphorinae is a subfamily of flies currently classified within Dolichopodidae (sensu lato), though historically treated as a separate family or subfamily of Empididae. The subfamily contains seven genera: two extant (Microphor and Schistostoma) and five extinct genera known from Cretaceous and Eocene amber deposits. The Nearctic fauna includes 33 species across both extant genera, with Schistostoma being notably diverse. Extinct species in Microphorites exhibit remarkable leg modifications suggesting complex behavioral adaptations.
Microphthalma
Microphthalma is a genus of tachinid flies in the family Tachinidae, first described by Macquart in 1843. The genus contains approximately 16 described species distributed across multiple continents. As with other tachinids, members of this genus are parasitoid flies whose larvae develop within host insects. The genus name refers to the characteristically reduced eyes found in these flies.
Microphthalma disjuncta
bristle fly
Microphthalma disjuncta is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae. It is a parasitoid fly native to North America. As with other tachinid flies, it likely develops as a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for this species are not well documented in the available literature.
Microstylum
Giant Robber Flies
Microstylum is a genus of large robber flies (family Asilidae) containing at least 130 described species. The genus includes North America's largest robber fly, Microstylum morosum, which reaches 35–50 mm in body length. Species in this genus are characterized by their substantial size relative to other Asilidae and a mystax (facial beard) confined to the oral margin and composed of stout bristles. The genus has a broad distribution with species occurring in North America, the Neotropics, and Madagascar.
Microtabanus
Microtabanus is a genus of horse flies in the family Tabanidae, established by Lutz in 1922. The genus contains at least one described species, M. pygmaeus. It belongs to the tribe Diachlorini within the subfamily Tabaninae. Very little is known about the biology or ecology of this poorly documented genus.
Microtabanus pygmaeus
Microtabanus pygmaeus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Samuel Wendell Williston in 1887. It belongs to the genus Microtabanus, which comprises small-bodied tabanid flies. The species epithet 'pygmaeus' refers to its diminutive size relative to other horse flies. Like other members of the family, adults likely possess the large compound eyes and piercing-sucking mouthparts characteristic of blood-feeding female tabanids, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Milesia scutellata
Yellow-backed Giant
Milesia scutellata is a species of hoverfly (family Syrphidae) described by Hull in 1924. It belongs to the genus Milesia, which includes several large, wasp-mimicking species found in North America. The species is known from the southeastern United States, ranging from southeast Oklahoma to North Carolina. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits Batesian mimicry of stinging wasps, though specific behavioral and ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Milichiella
freeloader flies
Milichiella is a genus of small flies in the family Milichiidae, commonly known as freeloader flies. The genus is cosmopolitan in distribution with numerous species described from tropical and subtropical regions. Species within this genus are kleptoparasites, attracted to predatory events where they feed on fluids from prey captured by other arthropods such as spiders and assassin bugs. The genus has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with many species described by Brake in 2009.
Milichiella arcuata
freeloader fly
Milichiella arcuata is a species of freeloader fly in the family Milichiidae, known for kleptoparasitic behavior. The species was first described by Loew in 1876 under the basionym Lobioptera arcuata. Like other members of its family, it is attracted to predatory insects and spiders feeding on prey, where it steals food resources. The species is part of a diverse genus within a family specialized in exploiting the kills of other arthropods.
Milichiella bisignata
freeloader fly
Milichiella bisignata is a small dipteran in the family Milichiidae, commonly known as freeloader flies. The species was described by Melander in 1913 from North and Central America. Taxonomic status remains unsettled, with some sources treating it as a junior synonym of Milichiella lucidula while others maintain it as a valid species. Members of this genus are kleptoparasites, attracted to predatory insects and spiders actively consuming prey.
Milichiella lacteipennis
freeloader fly
Milichiella lacteipennis is a small, dark-colored fly in the family Milichiidae, commonly known as freeloader flies. The species has a cosmopolitan distribution, having been recorded from the Galápagos Islands, Japan, Madeira, Hawaii, and Argentina. It is a kleptoparasite that feeds on fluids from prey captured by predatory insects, particularly heteropteran bugs. The species was described by Loew in 1866.
Miltogramminae
Satellite Flies
Miltogramminae is a subfamily of flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) commonly known as satellite flies. They are obligate kleptoparasites that exploit the prey provisions of solitary bees and wasps, depositing their larvae on or near host-captured prey items. The subfamily has a global distribution with notable diversity in the Afrotropical, Palearctic, and Nearctic regions. Their common name derives from the behavior of adult females 'orbiting' host wasps to locate nests.
Minettia americanella
Minettia americanella is a small fly species in the family Lauxaniidae, described by Shewell in 1938. The species is placed in the subgenus Frendelia within the genus Minettia. As a member of Lauxaniidae, it belongs to a family of acalyptrate flies commonly known as lauxaniid flies. Very few observations of this species have been documented, with only 5 records on iNaturalist as of the available data.
Minettia caesia
Minettia caesia is a species of true fly in the family Lauxaniidae, a group commonly known as lauxaniid flies or fruit flies. The species was described by Coquillett in 1904. Lauxaniidae is a moderately large family of small to medium-sized flies, with most species exhibiting dull coloration in shades of brown, gray, or yellow. Members of the genus Minettia are found in various habitats across North America and other regions.
Minettia fasciata
Minettia fasciata is a species of fly in the family Lauxaniidae, a group of small to medium-sized flies commonly known as lauxaniid flies. The species was originally described as Lauxania fasciata by Fallén in 1820. It belongs to a genus that has been subject to taxonomic revision, with some sources treating it as a species complex. Distribution records indicate presence in northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, as well as on São Miguel Island in the Azores (Portugal).
Minettia flaveola
A small fly in the family Lauxaniidae, originally described as Sapromyza flaveola by Coquillett in 1898. This species is one of several North American Minettia and is frequently observed, with over 950 iNaturalist records documenting its presence. The genus Minettia includes small to medium-sized flies often associated with decaying plant matter.
Minettia hubbardii
Minettia hubbardii is a species of small fly in the family Lauxaniidae, described by Coquillett in 1898. The genus Minettia comprises numerous species of lauxaniid flies distributed primarily in the Holarctic region. Members of this family are generally associated with decaying organic matter and are common in forested and agricultural habitats. Specific biological details for M. hubbardii remain poorly documented in published literature.
Minettia lobata
Minettia lobata is a species of fly in the family Lauxaniidae, described by Shewell in 1938. It belongs to the genus Minettia, a group of small to medium-sized flies commonly known as lauxaniid flies. The species is placed in the subgenus Frendelia within Minettia. Very few observations of this species have been recorded, with limited documented information available regarding its biology and ecology.
Minettia shewelli
Minettia shewelli is a small fly species in the family Lauxaniidae, described by Steyskal in 1971. It belongs to the subgenus Frendelia within Minettia. The species is known from very few observations, with only two records documented on iNaturalist.
Mixogaster breviventris
Slender Ant Fly
Mixogaster breviventris is a species of syrphid fly (family Syrphidae) in the subfamily Microdontinae. The species was described by Kahl in 1897. It is known by the common name Slender Ant Fly. As a member of the Microdontinae, it belongs to a group of hoverflies whose larvae are associated with ant colonies.
Mixogaster fattigi
Fattig's Ant Fly
Mixogaster fattigi is a species of ant-mimicking hoverfly (family Syrphidae, subfamily Microdontinae) described in 2019. The genus Mixogaster belongs to the tribe Microdontini, a group whose larvae are known to develop within ant colonies as inquilines or predators of ant brood. The specific epithet honors entomologist Delbert La Rue Fattig. The species is part of a lineage exhibiting remarkable morphological convergence with ants, representing an evolutionary strategy to avoid predation while foraging or accessing ant-associated resources.
Mochlosoma
Mochlosoma is a genus of tachinid flies established in 1889 with M. validum as the type species. The genus comprises 18 described species, most described by Reinhard in 1958. These flies are commonly encountered in faunistic studies of the southwestern United States and Mexico, though their biology and host relationships remain poorly documented. The genus was originally described from a specimen collected in Pennsylvania.
Monardia
wood midges
Monardia is a genus of wood midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, first described by Kieffer in 1895. The genus contains approximately 40–53 described species organized into three subgenera. These small flies are part of the diverse gall midge family, though specific biological details for most species remain poorly documented. The genus has been recorded from northern European countries including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Monoceromyia floridensis
Rufous Wasp Fly
Monoceromyia floridensis is a species of hoverfly in the family Syrphidae, described by Shannon in 1922. As a member of the tribe Cerioidini, it belongs to a group of wasp-mimicking syrphid flies. The species is known from Florida and surrounding regions of the southeastern United States. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits Batesian mimicry of stinging Hymenoptera, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Monochaetoscinella
Monochaetoscinella is a genus of small flies in the family Chloropidae, established by Duda in 1930. As a member of the subfamily Oscinellinae, it belongs to a group of grass flies that are generally poorly studied. The genus is distinguished by specific chaetotaxy (bristle arrangement) features, particularly the reduction in dorsocentral bristles. Species-level taxonomy and biology remain largely undocumented in accessible literature.
Morellia
Morellia is a large genus of true flies in the family Muscidae. Members are robust, dark-colored flies with distinctive thoracic patterning. The genus was established by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1830 and contains numerous species distributed across multiple continents.
Mosillus tibialis
shore fly
Mosillus tibialis is a species of shore fly in the family Ephydridae, first described by Cresson in 1916. The species is distributed across North America, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, and the Bahamas, with introduced populations in the Hawaiian Islands. Shore flies in this family are typically associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The specific epithet "tibialis" refers to a characteristic of the tibiae (leg segments), though the precise diagnostic feature is not detailed in available sources.
Mumetopia occipitalis
Mumetopia occipitalis is a species of true fly in the family Anthomyzidae, described by Melander in 1913. The genus Mumetopia is a small group within Anthomyzidae, a family of small, slender flies associated with decaying plant matter and fungal substrates. Information on the biology and ecology of this species is limited.
Musca autumnalis
face fly, autumn housefly
Musca autumnalis, commonly known as the face fly or autumn housefly, is a nonbiting muscid fly native to the Palearctic region that was introduced to North America in the 1940s–1950s. Adults are obligate pests of cattle and horses, feeding on ocular and nasal secretions, tears, saliva, and blood from wounds. The species exhibits pronounced seasonal population dynamics, with peak abundance in late summer and autumn, and undergoes facultative diapause in adults triggered by short photoperiod and cool temperatures. Larval development occurs exclusively in fresh cattle dung, where larvae feed on microbial flora and fauna.
Musca domestica
house fly, common house fly
Musca domestica is a cosmopolitan synanthropic fly and the most abundant insect in confined cattle operations. Adults are small (6–7 mm), gray with four dark longitudinal stripes on the thorax and creamy yellow abdominal sides. They do not bite but feed on blood, sweat, tears, saliva, and other bodily fluids, causing cattle to exhibit defensive behaviors including ear flapping, head shaking, and feeding hesitancy. The species completes development from egg to adult in as little as two weeks under optimal conditions, with up to 12 generations annually in temperate climates. Females deposit 75–150 eggs per batch in decaying organic matter, particularly manure and rotting vegetation. House flies are mechanical vectors of over 200 pathogens including E. coli, and can infest cattle wounds with maggots.
Muscidae
House Flies and Allies, House Flies, Stable Flies
Muscidae is a family of flies in the superfamily Muscoidea containing nearly 4,000 described species across over 100 genera. The family exhibits diverse feeding strategies: adults may be predatory, hematophagous, saprophagous, or feed on plant and animal exudates including sugar, sweat, tears, and blood. Larvae develop in varied habitats including decaying vegetation, soil, carrion, and freshwater. While some species are synanthropic and of medical importance, most species are not associated with human habitation.