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
Asyndetus interruptus
Asyndetus interruptus is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, originally described by Loew in 1861. It is one of nine recognized Asyndetus species occurring in the West Indies. The species is part of a genus characterized by distinctive male genitalic structures, with some species exhibiting rare mandible-like labella.
Atacta
Atacta is a genus of tachinid flies established by Schiner in 1868. The genus contains four described species distributed in the Neotropical region. Like other members of the tribe Goniini, these flies are parasitoids, though specific host associations for Atacta species remain poorly documented.
Atarba
Atarba is a genus of crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) established by Osten Sacken in 1869. The genus contains three recognized subgenera: Atarba, Atarbodes, and Ischnothrix. Species within this genus are slender, delicate flies characteristic of the Limoniidae family. The genus has been documented in North America, with records from the northeastern United States including Vermont.
Athericidae
water snipe flies, ibis flies
Athericidae is a small family of flies in the infraorder Tabanomorpha, historically classified within Rhagionidae until separated by Stuckenberg in 1973. The family contains approximately 123 described species distributed worldwide across two subfamilies: Dasyommatinae (monotypic) and Athericinae. Adults are commonly known as water snipe flies or ibis flies. Larvae are strictly aquatic predators in fast-flowing montane streams and torrents, while adults are primarily nectar-feeders with some species exhibiting hematophagy.
Atherix
ibis flies
Atherix is a genus of 'ibis flies' in the family Athericidae, a small family closely related to Rhagionidae (snipe flies). Species occur across most of Europe and the Nearctic realm. Adults are medium-sized flies; larvae are aquatic predators. Females of some species exhibit distinctive clustering behavior, forming dense aggregations on bridge undersides where eggs are deposited.
Atherix variegata
watersnipe fly
Atherix variegata is a species of watersnipe fly in the family Athericidae. It is found in Canada and the United States. The species was described by Francis Walker in 1848. Like other members of the family Athericidae, adults are associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats.
Athyroglossa
Athyroglossa is a genus of shore flies in the family Ephydridae, established by Loew in 1860. The genus contains at least 30 described species distributed primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, with records from Norway and Sweden. Shore flies in this family are typically associated with moist or aquatic environments.
Atomosia
Micropanthers
Atomosia is a genus of robber flies (family Asilidae) established by Macquart in 1838. The genus contains at least 60 described species, commonly referred to as "Micropanthers." Members are predatory flies that capture other insects in flight. The genus is distributed in North America, with records from the United States including Vermont.
Atomosia arkansensis
Atomosia arkansensis is a species of robber fly (Asilidae) described by Barnes in 2008. The species name indicates its association with Arkansas, where it was first documented. As a member of the diverse Asilidae family, it is a predatory fly, though specific details of its biology remain limited in published literature.
Atomosia mucida
Atomosia mucida is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Osten Sacken in 1887. Robber flies in this genus are predatory insects that capture other arthropods in flight. The species belongs to a diverse group of aerial predators within the Diptera.
Atomosia rufipes
Atomosia rufipes is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Macquart in 1847. Robber flies are predatory dipterans known for their aggressive hunting behavior and powerful flight. The species epithet 'rufipes' refers to reddish-colored legs, a characteristic feature of this taxon. As with other members of the genus Atomosia, this species likely exhibits the typical asilid morphology adapted for aerial predation.
Atomosia tibialis
Atomosia tibialis is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Macquart in 1846. Robber flies are predatory dipterans known for their aerial hunting abilities and robust morphology. The specific epithet "tibialis" suggests a distinctive characteristic of the tibiae (leg segments), though the precise nature of this trait requires original description examination. As a member of the genus Atomosia, this species belongs to a group of relatively small to medium-sized asilids.
Atomosiella
Atomosiella is a genus of robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) described by Wilcox in 1937. Its taxonomic status is uncertain; it is treated as a synonym of Amathomyia in Catalogue of Life and marked as doubtful in GBIF. The genus belongs to the diverse family of predatory Asilidae, though specific biological information about Atomosiella itself is not documented in available sources.
Atomosiella antennata
Metallic Micropanther
Atomosiella antennata is a small robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Banks in 1920. It is known from only three observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is rarely encountered or poorly documented. The common name "Metallic Micropanther" suggests distinctive metallic coloration. As a member of the Asilidae, it is a predatory fly, though specific prey and behavioral details for this species remain undocumented.
Atoniomyia
Atoniomyia is a genus of robber flies (family Asilidae) established by Hermann in 1912. The genus comprises approximately 14 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. As members of the Asilidae, these flies are predatory in both adult and larval stages. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision, with Catalogue of Life listing it as a synonym of Atonia, though other sources maintain it as a valid genus.
Atrichomelina
snail-killing flies
Atrichomelina is a genus of marsh flies (family Sciomyzidae) whose larvae are predators of freshwater snails. The genus was established by Cresson in 1920 and contains at least one described species, Atrichomelina pubera. Like other sciomyzids, members of this genus have aquatic or semi-aquatic immature stages that develop in association with mollusk hosts.
Atrichopogon minutus
Atrichopogon minutus is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1830. Originally placed in the genus Ceratopogon, it was later transferred to Atrichopogon. The species belongs to the subfamily Forcipomyiinae, a group whose members are often associated with various ecological roles including pollination and parasitism. Records indicate presence in European and Atlantic island localities including the Azores.
Atylotus
horse flies
Atylotus is a genus of horse flies in the family Tabanidae, containing approximately 15 described species. Species occur in western North America, Egypt, and parts of Europe and North America including Connecticut and Scandinavia. The genus has been subject to recent taxonomic revision, with species-level identification keys developed for regional faunas.
Atylotus calcar
Atylotus calcar is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Teskey in 1983. As a member of the genus Atylotus, it belongs to a group of medium to large-sized biting flies commonly known as horse flies or deer flies. The species is part of the tribe Tabanini within the subfamily Tabaninae. Very few observations of this species have been recorded, with only six documented observations on iNaturalist.
Atylotus duplex
horse fly
Atylotus duplex is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It has been documented in seasonal flight activity studies in Connecticut, indicating adult activity patterns in that region. The species occurs in North America with records from Canada and the United States. Like other horse flies, adults are likely diurnal and females probably require blood meals for egg development, though specific biological details for this species remain limited in the available literature.
Atylotus hyalicosta
Atylotus hyalicosta is a species of horse fly (family Tabanidae) described by Teskey in 1984. It belongs to the genus Atylotus, a group of biting flies known for their robust build and large eyes. Like other members of Tabanidae, females of this species likely require blood meals for egg development, while males feed on nectar and other sugar sources. The species is poorly documented in public literature, with only one observation recorded on iNaturalist.
Aulacigaster mcalpinei
Aulacigaster mcalpinei is a small fly species in the family Aulacigastridae, described by Mathis and Freidberg in 1994. The genus Aulacigaster comprises flies associated with sap flows and wounded trees. Aulacigastridae is a small family of acalyptrate Diptera with limited documented natural history.
Aulagromyza
Aulagromyza is a genus of leaf-miner flies in the family Agromyzidae, comprising approximately 50 described species distributed across the Holarctic region. Species in this genus are primarily phytophagous, with larvae that feed internally within leaf parenchyma, creating distinctive blotch or serpentine mines. Several species are monophagous or oligophagous, showing strong host associations with particular plant genera including Fraxinus (ash), Lonicera (honeysuckle), and Populus (poplar). The genus is of ecological interest due to its role in leaf herbivory and its interactions with parasitoid wasps.
Aulagromyza cornigera
Aulagromyza cornigera is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae. Its larvae create distinctive linear mines on leaves of honeysuckle family plants, particularly Lonicera and Symphoricarpos. The species is univoltine, with larval activity occurring from late March through early June. It has a transatlantic distribution, occurring across Europe and in North America.
Aulagromyza orbitalis
Aulagromyza orbitalis is a species of leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, first described by Melander in 1913. It belongs to a genus of small flies whose larvae create distinctive feeding patterns within leaf tissue. The species has been documented in the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont. As with other Aulagromyza species, the adults are typically small and inconspicuous, while the larval stage is the most economically and ecologically significant due to leaf-mining damage.
Austrolimnophila toxoneura
Austrolimnophila toxoneura is a Nearctic species of limoniid crane fly in the family Limoniidae. The species was originally described by Osten Sacken in the mid-19th century under the basionym Limnophila toxoneura. It occurs across a broad range of eastern North America, from Ontario and Newfoundland south to Tennessee and North Carolina. Like other members of Limoniidae, it belongs to a diverse family of slender-bodied crane flies often associated with moist habitats.
Automola
Automola is a genus of flies in the family Richardiidae, established by Loew in 1873. The genus contains at least three described species: A. atomaria, A. caloptera, and A. rufa. Species in this genus are found in the New World tropics and subtropics. Richardiidae flies are commonly known as picture-winged flies due to their patterned wings.
Axymyia furcata
Axymyia furcata is a xylophilic, semi-aquatic nematoceran fly and the sole described species in the genus Axymyia. Once considered rare, the species has been documented across twenty U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the eastern Nearctic. Its larvae develop in water-filled rot holes and cavities of living hardwood trees within deciduous forests. Research indicates post-glacial range expansion from southern Appalachian refugia, with possible survival in northern refugia including the Driftless area and southeastern Ohio.
Azeliini
Azeliini is a tribe of flies within the family Muscidae, subfamily Muscinae. The tribe contains seven recognized genera, including the well-known genera Hydrotaea and Ophyra. Members of this tribe are generally small to medium-sized muscid flies found in diverse habitats worldwide.
Backomyia anomala
Backomyia anomala is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Wilcox & Martin in 1957. The genus Backomyia is a small group within the diverse robber fly family, which contains over 7,000 species worldwide. Robber flies are predatory insects known for their aggressive hunting behavior and stout, piercing mouthparts. Specific information about the biology, habitat preferences, and distribution of B. anomala remains limited in the available literature.
Backomyia hannai
Big Bear Bandit
Backomyia hannai is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Wilcox & Martin in 1957. It is placed in the genus Backomyia, a small genus within the diverse Asilidae family. The species is known by the common name "Big Bear Bandit" in iNaturalist taxonomy, though this name appears to have limited formal usage. As with other robber flies, B. hannai is presumed to be a predatory insect, but specific biological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
Backomyia schlingeri
Schlinger Bandit
Backomyia schlingeri is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Wilcox & Martin in 1957. The species epithet honors E. Schlinger, a notable collector associated with the UCR Entomology Research Museum. As a member of the Asilidae, it is presumed to be a predatory fly, though specific biological details remain undocumented in available sources. The common name "Schlinger Bandit" has been assigned on iNaturalist.
Bactrocera oleae
olive fruit fly, olive fly, δάκος της ελιάς
Bactrocera oleae is a tephritid fruit fly and the most destructive pest of olive cultivation worldwide. Larvae feed exclusively on olive fruits (Olea europaea), causing direct damage to pulp and oil quality. Annual crop losses can reach 30% without control, and exceed 90% in severe infestations. The species is monophagous on olives and has developed resistance to multiple insecticide classes, driving research into alternative management strategies including sterile insect technique and biological control.
Basilia forcipata
Basilia forcipata is a species of bat fly in the family Nycteribiidae, described by Ferris in 1924. As with other members of the genus Basilia, this species is an obligate ectoparasite of bats. The species is part of a poorly studied but diverse group of dipteran parasites specialized for life on chiropteran hosts.
Beameromyia
Beameromyia is a genus of robber flies (family Asilidae) established by Martin in 1957. As members of the Asilidae, these predatory flies are characterized by their robust build and predatory habits. The genus contains species distributed in North America, with records primarily from the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other robber flies, they are aerial predators that capture other insects in flight.
Beameromyia bifida
Notch-tailed Pixie
Beameromyia bifida is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) first described by Hardy in 1942 under the basionym Leptogaster bifidus. It is commonly known as the Notch-tailed Pixie. The species belongs to the genus Beameromyia, a group of small, delicate robber flies sometimes referred to as 'pixies' due to their diminutive size and agile flight. As with other Asilidae, it is a predatory fly, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Beameromyia chrysops
Golden-eyed Pixie
Beameromyia chrysops is a small robber fly species in the family Asilidae, first described by Martin in 1957. The species is commonly known as the 'Golden-eyed Pixie,' a name reflecting its diminutive size and likely eye coloration. As a member of the Asilidae, it is a predatory fly that captures other insects in flight. The genus Beameromyia contains species of small, often inconspicuous robber flies that are poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Beameromyia lunula
Madera Pixie
Beameromyia lunula is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Martin in 1957. It belongs to the subfamily Laphriinae and tribe Atomosiini. The species epithet 'lunula' refers to a small crescent or moon-shaped marking, likely describing a distinctive wing or body pattern. As with other robber flies, it is presumed to be a predatory insect, though specific behavioral and ecological details remain poorly documented.
Beameromyia macula
Spot-legged Pixie
Beameromyia macula is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Martin in 1957. It is commonly known as the Spot-legged Pixie. As a member of the Asilidae, it belongs to a family of predatory flies known for their aggressive hunting behavior and aerial predation on other insects. The genus Beameromyia is part of the diverse robber fly fauna of North America.
Beameromyia monticola
Santa Rita Pixie
Beameromyia monticola is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Martin in 1957. The species epithet 'monticola' (mountain-dwelling) suggests an association with montane habitats. The common name 'Santa Rita Pixie' indicates a likely connection to the Santa Rita Mountains of Arizona. As a member of the Asilidae, it belongs to a family of predatory flies known for their aggressive hunting behavior and distinctive morphology.
Beameromyia pictipes
Painted Pixie
Beameromyia pictipes is a small robber fly in the family Asilidae, commonly known as the Painted Pixie. This species belongs to a genus characterized by diminutive size among robber flies. The species was described by Hermann Loew in 1862. Available records indicate it is rarely encountered, with limited observational data.
Bellardia bayeri
Bayer's Emerald-bottle
Bellardia bayeri is a species of blow fly in the family Calliphoridae, first described by Jacentkovský in 1937 under the basionym Onesia bayeri. It is commonly known as Bayer's Emerald-bottle. The species has been recorded in Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, Denmark) and the United States. As a member of the Calliphoridae, it belongs to a family of flies known for their metallic coloration and ecological roles in decomposition.
Bellardia vulgaris
Pale-veined Emerald-bottle
Bellardia vulgaris is a species of blow fly in the family Calliphoridae, commonly known as the Pale-veined Emerald-bottle. It is a metallic green fly distributed across parts of Europe including Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. As a member of the Calliphoridae, it is likely associated with decomposing organic matter, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in the provided sources.
Belosta
Belosta is a genus of small, slender flies in the family Scenopinidae, commonly known as window flies. The genus was established by Hardy in 1944 and is classified within the tribe Metatrichiini. Members of this genus are part of a family characterized by their distinctive wing venation and predatory habits as larvae. The genus is poorly documented in public sources, with limited species-level information available.
Belvosia canadensis
Belvosia canadensis is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae, described by Curran in 1927. As a tachinid fly, it is likely an endoparasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for this species remain undocumented. The species occurs in North America, with records from both Canada and the United States.
Belvosia townsendi
Belvosia townsendi is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae, described by Aldrich in 1928. It is a parasitoid fly native to North America. As a member of the tribe Goniini within the subfamily Exoristinae, it belongs to a large group of tachinid flies that parasitize other insects, primarily Lepidoptera larvae.
Belvosia unifasciata
Belvosia unifasciata is a species of tachinid fly, a family of bristle flies known for their role as parasitoids of other insects. The species was first described by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1830 under the name Latreillia unifasciata. Like other members of the genus Belvosia, it is an internal parasite of caterpillars, specifically documented as a parasitoid of the White-lined Sphinx moth (Hyles lineata).
Benthalia
Benthalia is a genus of non-biting midges in the family Chironomidae, established by Lipina in 1939. The genus is currently treated as a synonym of Einfeldia in the Catalogue of Life, reflecting ongoing taxonomic revision in the Chironomini tribe. Species historically placed in Benthalia are primarily benthic, inhabiting the bottom sediments of aquatic environments.
Beridinae
soldier flies
Beridinae is a subfamily of soldier flies (Stratiomyidae) comprising approximately 15 genera. Species in this subfamily have been documented across temperate regions including Canada, Alaska, and Iran, with records indicating presence in forested habitats. The subfamily is taxonomically well-defined with available identification keys for adults and larvae.
Beris fuscipes
Short-horned Black Legionnaire
Beris fuscipes, commonly known as the short-horned black legionnaire, is a European soldier fly in the family Stratiomyidae. The species is distinguished by its bright shining green thorax and scutellum, black abdomen, and extensively dark dull orange or dusky legs. It inhabits damp woodlands, marshes, and fens, with adults active from May through September.