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
Pallopteridae
flutter-wing flies, trembling-wing flies, waving-wing flies
Pallopteridae is a small family of acalyptrate flies comprising approximately 70 species across 15 genera, distributed primarily in temperate regions of both Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Adults are recognized by their characteristic wing vibration behavior, which produces the common names flutter-wing, trembling-wing, or waving-wing flies. The family exhibits diverse larval feeding strategies including saprophagy, phytophagy, and occasional zoophagy, with larvae developing in flowerheads, stems, and other plant tissues.
Palpada pusilla
Bicolored Plushback
Palpada pusilla is a species of syrphid fly in the family Syrphidae, commonly known as the Bicolored Plushback. It is a member of the tribe Eristalini, which includes species whose larvae are known as "rat-tailed maggots" due to their distinctive posterior breathing siphon. The species has been documented across all 27 states of Brazil based on distribution records. Adult flies are pollinators that visit flowers, while larvae develop in organic-rich aquatic environments.
Palpada texana
Wide-eyed Plushback
Palpada texana is a species of hoverfly (family Syrphidae) in the tribe Eristalini. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic larval habitats typical of the Eristalina subtribe. The species was described by Hull in 1925. Adults are presumably pollinators, though specific behavioral observations for this species are limited.
Palpomyia rufa
Palpomyia rufa is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, described by Loew in 1861. The specific epithet "rufa" refers to reddish coloration. Ceratopogonidae are small, blood-sucking or predatory flies commonly known as no-see-ums or biting midges. Members of the genus Palpomyia are generally predatory as larvae.
Pandivirilia conspicua
Pandivirilia conspicua is a species of stiletto fly in the family Therevidae, originally described by Walker in 1848. As a member of this predatory fly family, it likely exhibits the characteristic features of therevids, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The species is accepted in major taxonomic databases but has no recorded observations in community science platforms, suggesting it is rarely encountered or underreported.
Pangoniinae
Long-tongue Horse Flies
Pangoniinae is a subfamily of horse-flies (family Tabanidae, order Diptera) comprising seven tribes and over 40 genera. Members are distinguished from other Tabanidae by the presence of ocelli and an antennal flagellum typically bearing eight rings. The subfamily includes some of the most primitive known Tabanidae, with most species being low-flying and non-bloodfeeding. Australian Pangoniinae show east coastal distribution with a secondary center in Western Australia.
Pantarbes
Pantarbes is a genus of bee flies (family Bombyliidae) comprising six described species. The genus was established by Osten Sacken in 1877 and is currently classified within the subfamily Cythereinae. Species in this genus are found in North America, with records from the western United States and adjacent regions.
Pantarbes capito
Pantarbes capito is a species of bee fly (family Bombyliidae) described by Osten Sacken in 1877. It is known from the southwestern United States, with records spanning from California to Wyoming. As a member of the bee fly family, it belongs to a group of flies that are typically pollinators and often parasitoids of other insects. The genus Pantarbes is classified within the subfamily Cythereinae.
Panzeria ampelus
Panzeria ampelus is a tachinid fly (Diptera: Tachinidae) distributed in North America. It has been documented as an occasional parasitoid of the bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata) in western Canada. The immature stages of this species have been described and illustrated.
Paracantha culta
Paracantha culta is a species of fruit fly in the family Tephritidae. It occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the subfamily Tephritinae and tribe Eutretini, it belongs to a group of tephritid flies often associated with plants. Specific biological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Paracladura
winter crane flies
Paracladura is a genus of winter crane flies (family Trichoceridae) comprising more than 30 described species. Adults are active during winter months, an unusual trait among insects. The genus is distinguished from other trichocerids by wing venation patterns. Paracladura is the least diverse of the three North American trichocerid genera, with one species documented in western North America.
Paracladura trichoptera
winter crane fly
Paracladura trichoptera is a species of winter crane fly in the family Trichoceridae, order Diptera. It was originally described as Trichocera trichoptera by Osten Sacken in 1877. Winter crane flies are a small family of slender, long-legged flies that are active during cooler months, distinguishing them from most other crane flies. The family Trichoceridae is considered primitive within Diptera and is closely related to the Tipulidae (true crane flies).
Paraclius pumilio
Paraclius pumilio is a species of long-legged fly (Dolichopodidae) described by Loew in 1872. It belongs to the genus Paraclius, a group of predatory flies within the subfamily Dolichopodinae. The species has been documented through limited iNaturalist observations, suggesting it is either rare, under-recorded, or restricted in range. As with other dolichopodids, it likely occupies moist habitats near water or vegetation.
Paracosmus edwardsii
Paracosmus edwardsii is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae. It is known from California and Utah. The genus Paracosmus belongs to the diverse assemblage of bee flies, which are characterized by their stout, often fuzzy bodies and long proboscises adapted for nectar feeding. Most bee flies are parasitoids or predators in their larval stages, though specific life history details for this species remain undocumented.
Paracosmus morrisoni
Paracosmus morrisoni is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, subfamily Tomomyzinae. It was described by Osten Sacken in 1887. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico, representing part of the diverse bee fly fauna of arid and semi-arid regions of North America.
Paracraspedothrix
Paracraspedothrix is a genus of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) described by Villeneuve in 1920. The genus contains two described species: Paracraspedothrix angulicornis and Paracraspedothrix montivaga. Its taxonomic status is marked as doubtful in some databases, and it has been treated as a synonym in Catalogue of Life. Records indicate presence in Scandinavia.
Paracraspedothrix angulicornis
Paracraspedothrix angulicornis is a tachinid fly species described by Curran in 1930. The species has been transferred to the genus Chaetostigmoptera by some taxonomic treatments, creating a synonym relationship. Records indicate extremely limited documentation, with only a single observation recorded in iNaturalist. As with other tachinid flies, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Paradidyma
Paradidyma is a genus of tachinid flies established in 1891. The genus contains approximately 35 described species distributed primarily in the Americas, from the United States through Central America and into South America. Species have been described by multiple dipterists including Reinhard, Townsend, and Curran. As members of the Tachinidae, these flies are parasitoids, though specific host associations for most Paradidyma species remain undocumented.
Paradidyma affinis
bristle fly
Paradidyma affinis is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae, described by Reinhard in 1934. The species is recorded from North America, with distribution spanning Canada, the United States, and Mexico. As a tachinid fly, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host relationships and detailed biology remain poorly documented.
Paradidyma apicalis
Paradidyma apicalis is a species of tachinid fly (Diptera: Tachinidae) described by Reinhard in 1934. It belongs to the subfamily Tachininae and tribe Minthoini. The genus Paradidyma is part of a diverse group of parasitoid flies that attack various insect hosts. This species is recorded from North America.
Paradidyma bicincta
Paradidyma bicincta is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae, a group of parasitoid flies that play important roles in regulating insect populations. The species was described by Reinhard in 1934. Like other tachinid flies, it likely parasitizes other insects, though specific host records for this species remain undocumented. It is found in North America, specifically in the United States and Mexico.
Paradidyma conica
Paradidyma conica is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae, first described by Townsend in 1891. It belongs to the tribe Minthoini within the subfamily Tachininae. The species is known from North America, with records from the United States. As a tachinid fly, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations for this species have not been documented in the available literature.
Paradiplocampta tabeti
Paradiplocampta tabeti is a species of bee fly (family Bombyliidae) described by Hall in 1974. It belongs to the subfamily Anthracinae and tribe Villini. The genus Paradiplocampta contains species characterized by distinctive wing venation and body proportions. Like other bombyliids, adults likely function as pollinators and larvae are presumed parasitoids, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Paradryomyza setosa
Paradryomyza setosa is a species of true fly in the family Dryomyzidae, a group commonly known as marsh flies or snail-killing flies. The species was described by Bigot in 1886. Like other members of Dryomyzidae, it belongs to a family whose larvae are known to develop in terrestrial snails and slugs, making them predators of mollusks. The genus Paradryomyza contains relatively few described species, and P. setosa is among the better-documented members of this genus.
Paralimna
shore flies
Paralimna is a genus of shore flies in the family Ephydridae, first described by Loew in 1862. The genus contains at least 90 described species. These small flies are associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic environments, consistent with the ecological habits of the family Ephydridae.
Paralimna thomae
Paralimna thomae is a species of shore fly in the family Ephydridae, described by Wiedemann in 1830. Very little is documented about this species beyond its taxonomic classification. The genus Paralimna belongs to a family of small flies commonly associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats, though specific ecological details for this species remain unreported.
Paramacronychiinae
Paramacronychiinae is a subfamily of flesh flies within the family Sarcophagidae. The subfamily contains 23 genera and at least 32 species in China alone. Members include necrophagous species and some that cause myiasis in mammals. The group has been studied for forensic entomology applications due to carrion associations.
Parametriocnemus
Parametriocnemus is a genus of non-biting midges in the family Chironomidae, subfamily Orthocladiinae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on all continents except Antarctica. It was established by Goetghebuer in 1931. Species-level identification of adult males in the Nearctic region requires examination of genitalia and other morphological features detailed in specialized taxonomic keys.
Paramormia
Paramormia is a genus of moth flies (Psychodidae) established by Enderlein in 1935. The genus contains at least 13 described species distributed across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. Species-level taxonomy has been revised multiple times, with several species described by Krek (1971, 1972), Vaillant (1972, 1973), and Ježek (2004).
Paramormia furcata
Paramormia furcata is a small moth fly (family Psychodidae) first described by Kincaid in 1899. The species has been reclassified under the genus Telmatoscopus in some taxonomic treatments, creating nomenclatural confusion. As a member of the Psychodidae, it belongs to a family of small, hairy flies commonly known as moth flies or drain flies, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Paramyia
freeloader flies
Paramyia is a genus of small flies in the family Milichiidae, commonly known as freeloader flies. The genus was established by Williston in 1897 and contains approximately 18 described species. Members of this genus share the family trait of kleptoparasitic behavior, often associating with predatory insects to feed on their kills.
Paramyiolia nigricornis
Paramyiolia nigricornis is a species of fruit fly in the family Tephritidae, first described by Doane in 1899 under the name Aciura nigricornis. It is a member of the tribe Trypetini within the subfamily Trypetinae. The species has been recorded from the northeastern United States, specifically Vermont.
Pararchytas
Pararchytas is a genus of tachinid flies comprising three described species: P. apache, P. decisus, and P. hammondi. These flies are parasitoids, a characteristic trait of the family Tachinidae. The genus was established by Brauer and Bergenstamm in 1894 and is classified within the subfamily Tachininae and tribe Tachinini. Observations of this genus remain relatively scarce, with under 100 documented records on iNaturalist.
Parascatopse sonorensis
Parascatopse sonorensis is a species of minute black scavenger fly in the family Scatopsidae, described by Cook in 1955. The specific epithet 'sonorensis' refers to Sonora, suggesting a type locality or known distribution in the Sonoran region. Scatopsidae are generally small, dark-colored flies associated with decaying organic matter. This species belongs to the tribe Rhegmoclematini within the subfamily Scatopsinae.
Parasphaerocera
lesser dung flies
Parasphaerocera is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. The genus was established by Spuler in 1924 and is classified within the subfamily Sphaerocerinae. Members of this genus are associated with decomposing organic matter. The genus is rarely encountered, with limited observational records.
Parastenopa
Parastenopa is a genus of tephritid fruit flies established by Hendel in 1914. The genus comprises approximately 10 described species distributed primarily in the Americas, with records from the United States through South America. Species in this genus are classified within the tribe Trypetini of subfamily Trypetinae.
Parasyrphus genualis
Common Bristleside
Parasyrphus genualis is a species of hoverfly (family Syrphidae) described by Williston in 1887. It was originally described under the genus Syrphus before being moved to Parasyrphus. The species has been documented in North America with at least 21 observations on iNaturalist. As a member of Syrphidae, it belongs to a family known for pollination services and, in many species, predatory larvae that feed on aphids.
Parasyrphus semiinterruptus
Emarginate Bristleside
Parasyrphus semiinterruptus is a species of hoverfly in the family Syrphidae, first described by Fluke in 1935. The species is known by the common name Emarginate Bristleside. It belongs to the genus Parasyrphus, a group of small to medium-sized hoverflies. Available records for this species are limited, with few documented observations.
Parataracticus
Parataracticus is a genus of robber flies (family Asilidae) established by Cole in 1924. The genus contains seven described species distributed in North America, with most species described by Martin and Wilcox in the mid-20th century. As members of the Asilidae family, species in this genus are predatory flies that capture prey in flight.
Paraterellia immaculata
Paraterellia immaculata is a species of fruit fly in the family Tephritidae, described by Blanc in 1979. It is one of approximately 20 species in the genus Paraterellia, a group of tephritid flies primarily distributed in the New World. The specific epithet 'immaculata' (meaning 'unspotted' or 'spotless') likely refers to the wing pattern, as many tephritids are characterized by distinctive wing markings. Very little is known about the biology or ecology of this species.
Paraterellia superba
Paraterellia superba is a species of tephritid fruit fly in the family Tephritidae, described by Foote in 1960. It belongs to the genus Paraterellia, which is part of the tribe Carpomyini within the subfamily Trypetinae. As a member of the true fruit flies, it is likely associated with plant hosts, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in available sources.
Paraterellia ypsilon
Paraterellia ypsilon is a species of tephritid fruit fly described by Foote in 1960. It belongs to the genus Paraterellia within the family Tephritidae, a group of true flies commonly known as fruit flies. The species is part of the tribe Carpomyini and subtribe Paraterelliina. Very little specific information about its biology, distribution, or ecology has been documented in available sources.
Paraterelliina
Paraterelliina is a subtribe of fruit flies within the family Tephritidae, established by Korneyev in 1995. It belongs to the tribe Carpomyini in the subfamily Trypetinae. The subtribe contains genera of small to medium-sized tephritid flies, though the constituent genera and species-level composition remain incompletely documented in public sources.
Parathalassius uniformus
Parathalassius uniformus is a species of long-legged fly described from the Nearctic region in 2017. The species was established during a comprehensive revision of the genus Parathalassius, which included morphological phylogenetic analysis and COI mitochondrial DNA barcoding. It is one of twelve Nearctic species in the genus, nine of which were newly described in the same revision. The genus Parathalassius is associated with sandy coastal habitats.
Paravilla cinerea
Paravilla cinerea is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Cole in 1923. It belongs to the tribe Villini within the subfamily Anthracinae. The species has been recorded in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
Paravilla fumosa
Paravilla fumosa is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, described by Hall in 1981. It is endemic to California. As a member of the bee fly family, it likely exhibits the characteristic parasitoid lifestyle of many bombyliids, though specific details remain unreported.
Paravilla mercedis
Paravilla mercedis is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, described by Coquillett in 1887. It occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. As a member of the tribe Villini, it shares the characteristic bee-like appearance common to this group of flies.
Paravilla mexicana
Paravilla mexicana is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Hall in 1981. As a member of the genus Paravilla, it belongs to the tribe Villini within the subfamily Anthracinae. Bee flies in this genus are typically parasitoids or cleptoparasites of other insects, particularly solitary bees and wasps. The species epithet 'mexicana' suggests a geographic association with Mexico, though the precise distribution requires confirmation from specimen records.
Paravilla separata
Paravilla separata is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae. It occurs in eastern North America, ranging from Canada through the United States and into Mexico. Bee flies in this family are generally known as pollinators and parasitoids, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited.
Parectecephala eucera
Parectecephala eucera is a species of frit fly in the family Chloropidae, originally described by Loew in 1863 under the genus Chlorops. It belongs to a genus of small flies commonly associated with grasses and sedges. The species has been recorded in very few observations, with only three documented occurrences in iNaturalist as of the available data.