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
Cerodontha arundinariella
Cerodontha arundinariella is a species of leaf miner fly in the family Agromyzidae. As a member of the genus Cerodontha, its larvae develop within the leaf tissue of host plants, creating distinctive mines between the upper and lower epidermis. The species epithet suggests an association with bamboo or reed-like plants (Arundinaria). Very few observations of this species have been documented, reflecting either genuine rarity or undercollection due to its small size and specialized habitat.
Cerodontha dorsalis
grass sheathminer, grass sheathminer fly
Cerodontha dorsalis is a leaf miner fly in the family Agromyzidae, commonly known as the grass sheathminer. Larvae bore between the layers of grass blades and leaves of sedges and rushes, creating internal mines. The species exhibits two color forms: a pale eastern form and a dark western form, with intermediate forms where distributions overlap. It has a broad geographic range spanning the Nearctic, Palearctic, and Neotropical regions.
Cerodontha feldmani
Cerodontha feldmani is a species of leaf miner fly in the family Agromyzidae, described by Eiseman and Lonsdale in 2018. The genus Cerodontha contains numerous small flies whose larvae create distinctive mines within plant tissues. As a member of this genus, it shares the characteristic biology of grass- and sedge-associated leaf miners, though species-level documentation remains limited.
Cerodontha luctuosa
Cerodontha luctuosa is a species of leaf-miner fly in the family Agromyzidae. Larvae create mines within grass blades and the leaves of sedges and rushes. The species was first described by Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1830. It has been documented in Scandinavia and other parts of Europe.
Cerodontha magnicornis
Cerodontha magnicornis is a small leaf miner fly in the family Agromyzidae. Larvae tunnel between the epidermal layers of grass blades and leaves of sedges and rushes, creating visible mines. Adults are attracted to blacklights and have been documented in early spring in North America. The genus Cerodontha contains numerous species with similar biology, many of which are difficult to distinguish without close examination.
Cerodontha saintandrewsensis
Cerodontha saintandrewsensis is a species of leaf-miner fly in the family Agromyzidae. The genus Cerodontha comprises small flies whose larvae create distinctive feeding patterns by boring between the layers of grass blades and leaves of sedges and rushes. This species was documented during blacklighting surveys in Leavenworth, Kansas, in early spring 2024.
Cerodontha scirpivora
Cerodontha scirpivora is a leaf miner fly in the family Agromyzidae. The species was described by Spencer in 1969. Its larvae create mines between the layers of leaves in grasses, sedges, and rushes. The specific epithet "scirpivora" indicates an association with Scirpus (bulrushes), a genus of sedges.
Ceromya
Ceromya is a genus of tachinid flies in the family Tachinidae, tribe Siphonini. The genus contains approximately 60 described species distributed across multiple continents. Nine species are recognized in the Nearctic region, organized into three species groups with distinct biogeographic patterns: the bicolor group (Holarctic), flaviseta group (European-Nearctic), and americana group (Neotropical-Nearctic). The genus was established by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1830.
Ceroxys
picture-winged flies
Ceroxys is a genus of picture-winged flies in the family Ulidiidae, comprising approximately 20 described species distributed primarily across the Northern Hemisphere. Adults are recognized by their distinctive patterned wings featuring dark spots, bars, or lines on a translucent background. The genus includes notable species such as Ceroxys latiusculus, which is common in western North America and frequently observed indoors during fall and winter. Larval development occurs in plant seed heads, particularly Senecio species.
Chaetogaedia
Chaetogaedia is a genus of tachinid flies comprising approximately 14 described species. The genus was established by Brauer & Bergenstamm in 1891 and is classified within the tribe Goniini of the subfamily Exoristinae. Species are distributed across the Americas, with records from North, Central, and South America. As with other tachinids, members are presumed to be parasitoids, though specific host associations for most species remain undocumented.
Chaetopleurophora
Chaetopleurophora is a genus of scuttle flies (family Phoridae) described by Schmitz in 1922. Members of this genus are small, humpbacked flies characterized by distinctive bristle patterns on the pleura (lateral thoracic sclerites). The genus belongs to the subfamily Phorinae and has been recorded from northern Europe.
Chaetopsis
picture-winged flies, corn silk flies
Chaetopsis is a genus of ulidiid flies (Diptera: Ulidiidae) established by Loew in 1868. The genus includes at least 13 described species distributed in tropical and semi-tropical regions of the Americas. Chaetopsis massyla is the most economically significant species, a major pest of fresh market sweet corn in Florida and tropical regions where larvae feed on developing corn kernels and silk. The genus is characterized by picture-winged morphology typical of Ulidiidae, with patterned wings and robust body form.
Chaetopsis aenea
picture-winged fly
Chaetopsis aenea is a species of picture-winged fly in the family Ulidiidae, originally described by Wiedemann in 1830 under the basionym Ortalis aenea. As a member of the genus Chaetopsis, it belongs to a group of flies known for their patterned wings. The species has been documented through 23 iNaturalist observations, though detailed biological information remains limited in published sources.
Chaetopsis apicalis
picture-winged fly
Chaetopsis apicalis is a species of picture-winged fly in the family Ulidiidae, originally described by Johnson in 1900. The species belongs to a family commonly known as ulidiid or picture-winged flies, recognized for their distinctively patterned wings. As with other members of the genus Chaetopsis, this species exhibits the characteristic wing markings that give the group its common name. The species has been documented in entomological collections and is represented in biodiversity databases with 37 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Chaetopsis fulvifrons
Chaetopsis fulvifrons is a species of picture-winged fly in the family Ulidiidae. The species was first described by Macquart in 1855 under the basionym Urophora fulvifrons. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive wing patterns typical of ulidiid flies. Documented observations are relatively sparse, with most records originating from the northeastern United States.
Chaetopsis quadrifasciata
picture-winged fly
Chaetopsis quadrifasciata is a species of picture-winged fly in the family Ulidiidae, first described by Curran in 1928. The genus Chaetopsis belongs to a group of flies commonly known as ulidiids or picture-winged flies, characterized by patterned wings. Available information on this species is limited; it is known from a small number of observations (16 records in iNaturalist). The specific epithet "quadrifasciata" refers to four bands or stripes, likely describing wing patterning.
Chaetosa
Chaetosa is a genus of small to medium-sized predatory flies in the family Scathophagidae, established by Coquillett in 1898. The genus comprises at least two described species: Chaetosa punctipes (Meigen, 1826) and Chaetosa churchilli Malloch, 1931. These flies are distributed across parts of northern Europe, with records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Chaetostigmoptera
Chaetostigmoptera is a genus of tachinid flies erected by Charles Howard Townsend in 1916. The genus belongs to the tribe Blondeliini within the subfamily Exoristinae. Six species have been described, ranging from 1898 to 1934. Members are parasitoid flies, though specific host records for this genus appear to be poorly documented in accessible literature.
Chalcosyrphus
Leafwalkers
Chalcosyrphus is a genus of hoverflies (family Syrphidae) in the subfamily Eristalinae, commonly known as leafwalkers. Species are notable for mimicking sawflies and other hymenopterans, often displaying bright or metallic coloration. Adults are structurally and behaviorally similar to the related genus Xylota but differ in larval morphology. The genus occurs across Europe, Asia, and North America, with larvae being saproxylic feeders in rotten wood.
Chalcosyrphus chalybeus
violet leafwalker
Chalcosyrphus chalybeus, commonly known as the violet leafwalker, is a species of syrphid fly (flower fly) found in the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. Adults are characterized by their all-black coloration with a distinctive steely blue or violet metallic sheen. Unlike many syrphid flies, this species shows a strong association with dead wood rather than flowers. The larvae develop in decaying wood as saprophages, while adults are known to visit flowers for nectar and pollen. Males possess holoptic (contiguous) eyes, a trait unusual among syrphid flies.
Chamaemyia
silver-flies
Chamaemyia is a genus of small flies in the family Chamaemyiidae, commonly known as silver-flies. It serves as the type genus for its family. Larvae of at least one species, Chamaemyia polystigma, are known predators of mealybugs, suggesting a broader role in biological control within the genus.
Chaoborus trivittatus
phantom midge
Chaoborus trivittatus is a species of phantom midge, a non-biting fly in the family Chaoboridae. The larvae are aquatic predators in lake ecosystems, notable for their diel vertical migration between deep daytime refuges and surface feeding zones. Unlike the congeneric C. americanus, C. trivittatus has a two-year life cycle with extended fourth-instar development. Adults are short-lived and non-feeding.
Cheilotrichia
Cheilotrichia is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, subfamily Chioneinae. The genus was established by Rossi in 1848 and contains two recognized subgenera: Cheilotrichia and Empeda. Species within this genus have been documented across the Palearctic region, with some extending into the Nearctic. One species, C. (E.) umiat, was originally described from Alaska and has recently been recorded from the Putorana Plateau in northern East Siberia, representing a significant range extension.
Chersodromia inchoata
Chersodromia inchoata is a species of dance fly in the family Hybotidae, described by Melander in 1906. It belongs to the subfamily Tachydromiinae and tribe Drapetini. The genus Chersodromia comprises small, predatory flies often found in moist, shaded habitats. Records for this species remain sparse, with limited observational data available.
Chersodromia parallela
Chersodromia parallela is a species of hybotid dance fly in the family Hybotidae, originally described by Melander in 1928. The species is known from the United States. Hybotid flies are generally predatory and are commonly referred to as dance flies due to their characteristic swarming behavior.
Chetostoma
Chetostoma is a genus of true flies (Diptera) in the family Tephritidae, first described by Camillo Rondani in 1856. The genus comprises approximately 15 described species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and East Asia. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized fruit flies, though specific biological details for most species remain poorly documented. The genus is classified within the subfamily Trypetinae and tribe Trypetini.
Chetostomatina
Chetostomatina is a subtribe of true fruit flies (family Tephritidae) established by Han in 1999. It belongs to the diverse group of tephritid flies, many of which are economically significant agricultural pests. The subtribe is part of the broader classification of fruit flies that includes numerous species with specialized relationships with host plants.
Chironomini
non-biting midges
Chironomini is a diverse tribe of non-biting midges within the family Chironomidae. Adults are mosquito-like in appearance but lack piercing mouthparts and are harmless to humans. Larvae are primarily aquatic and play significant roles in freshwater food webs. The tribe contains numerous genera distributed across multiple continents, with species occupying varied freshwater habitats from oligotrophic lakes to eutrophic waters.
Chironomus crassicaudatus
thick-tailed non-biting midge, thick-skinned midge
Chironomus crassicaudatus is a non-biting midge in the family Chironomidae, described by Malloch in 1915. The species is known from the eastern United States, ranging from Texas to New York. It has been documented in a rare case of human urogenital myiasis in Kolkata, India, where larvae were found in the urine of a patient living in unhygienic conditions with shared toilet facilities. As a member of the non-biting midges, adults lack functional mouthparts and do not feed on blood.
Chironomus melanescens
Chironomus melanescens is a species of non-biting midge in the family Chironomidae, described by Keyl in 1961. Like other members of the genus Chironomus, it is a holometabolous insect with aquatic larval stages. The species is part of one of the most well-studied groups of non-biting midges, though specific biological details for this particular species remain limited in available sources.
Chirosia betuleti
Knotting Gall
Chirosia betuleti is a gall-forming fly in the family Anthomyiidae that induces characteristic knotting galls on fern fronds. The species is best known through the distinctive damage it causes rather than adult morphology. It has been recorded across much of Europe, with extensive documentation in the United Kingdom. The gall structure and larval mining behavior are well-studied, though adult fly biology remains less documented.
Chirosia filicis
root-maggot fly
Chirosia filicis is a species of root-maggot fly in the family Anthomyiidae, described by Huckett in 1949. The species belongs to a genus whose larvae are associated with ferns and other plants. It has been recorded in the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont.
Chirosia spinosissima
Chirosia spinosissima is a species of root-maggot fly in the family Anthomyiidae, described by Malloch in 1919. Members of this genus are generally associated with ferns, with larvae typically developing in decaying fronds or rhizomes. The specific epithet 'spinosissima' suggests a heavily spined morphology, likely referring to distinctive bristle arrangements on the body. As with many anthomyiid species, detailed biological information remains limited in published literature.
Chloropidae
frit flies, grass flies, eye gnats
Chloropidae are a large family of small flies comprising approximately 2000 described species in over 160 genera, distributed worldwide. Adults are minute to small (1.0–4.0 mm, rarely to 12 mm), typically yellow, black, gray, or greenish, with a shiny appearance due to sparse pubescence. The mesonotum often bears three to five dark longitudinal stripes. Larvae exhibit diverse life histories: most are phytophagous, feeding on grasses and cereal crops, with some species causing significant agricultural damage; others are saprophagous, predatory, parasitic, or kleptoparasitic. A few species in genera Hippelates and Siphunculina are attracted to lachrymal secretions and other body fluids of mammals, earning the name 'eye gnats' and serving as mechanical vectors of bacterial and viral pathogens.
Chloropinae
grass flies
Chloropinae is a subfamily of grass flies (family Chloropidae) containing approximately 76 genera and hundreds of species. Members are found across diverse landscapes from boreal regions to arid coastal environments. Larval biology varies considerably, with some species associated with grasses and sedges while others develop in decaying organic matter or as inquilines. The subfamily is taxonomically well-documented in northern Europe and Asia, with ongoing work clarifying species boundaries and distributions.
Chloroprocta
Chloroprocta is a genus of blow flies in the family Calliphoridae, subfamily Chrysomyinae. The genus was described by Wulp in 1896. Species in this genus are associated with carrion and decomposing organic matter. The genus contains relatively few described species and is primarily distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics.
Chlorops certimus
Chlorops certimus is a species of frit fly in the family Chloropidae, described by Adams in 1904. It belongs to the genus Chlorops, a diverse group of small flies commonly associated with grasses and other monocot plants. The species is accepted in taxonomic databases but remains poorly documented in primary literature. Most Chloropidae are phytophagous, with larvae developing in stems or leaves of host plants.
Chlorops crocota
Chlorops crocota is a species of frit fly in the family Chloropidae, described by Loew in 1863. It is currently treated as a synonym of Chlorops crocotus. Chloropidae are small, often yellowish flies commonly known as grass flies or frit flies, many of which are associated with grasses and cereal crops. The specific biology and ecology of this nominal taxon remain poorly documented due to its synonymized status.
Chlorops rufescens
Chlorops rufescens is a species of frit fly in the family Chloropidae, order Diptera. The species was described by Roser in 1840. A junior synonym, Chlorops rufescens Oldenberg, 1923, has been published but the Roser authorship takes priority. The species belongs to the genus Chlorops, a diverse group of small flies commonly known as grass flies or frit flies. As with many Chloropidae, detailed natural history information for this specific species remains limited in published literature.
Chlorops sulphureus
Yellow Grass Fly
Chlorops sulphureus is a species of frit fly in the family Chloropidae, described by Loew in 1863. The species name 'sulphureus' refers to its yellow coloration. It belongs to a genus containing numerous grass-associated species, many of which are economically significant as pests of cereal crops. As a member of Chloropidae, it likely develops in association with grasses or sedges, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Chromatocera setigena
Chromatocera setigena is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae, first described by Coquillett in 1897. It is currently classified in the tribe Polideini, subfamily Tachininae. The species has undergone taxonomic revision, with some sources listing it under the synonym Lypha setigena. As a tachinid fly, it likely functions as a parasitoid, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Chromolepida bella
Chromolepida bella is a species of stiletto fly in the family Therevidae, described by Cole in 1923. The genus Chromolepida belongs to a diverse family of predatory flies commonly known as stiletto flies due to their elongated, piercing mouthparts. Therevidae species are generally found in dry, sandy habitats where their larvae prey on other soil-dwelling invertebrates. As a member of this family, C. bella likely shares the general therevid body plan and ecological habits, though specific details about this particular species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Chromolepida mexicana
Chromolepida mexicana is a species of stiletto fly in the family Therevidae, described by Cole in 1923. Stiletto flies are predatory insects characterized by their slender bodies and distinctive wing venation. The genus Chromolepida is part of a diverse family of brachyceran flies found primarily in arid and semi-arid regions. Very few observations of this species exist in public databases.
Chrysanthrax cypris
Chrysanthrax cypris is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae. It occurs in the eastern United States from Massachusetts and Iowa south to Mexico. The species is a parasitoid of tiphiid wasps. Adults are active pollinators that visit flowers for nectar.
Chrysanthrax dispar
Chrysanthrax dispar is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae. It occurs across eastern North America from Ontario, Canada, through the eastern United States west to Nebraska, and south to Mexico. The species is part of a diverse genus of bee flies, with adults typically observed visiting flowers.
Chrysanthrax juncturus
Chrysanthrax juncturus is a bee fly species in the family Bombyliidae, distributed in the southwestern United States and Mexico. As a member of this diverse fly family, it likely shares the characteristic bee-mimicking appearance and parasitic larval lifestyle typical of many bombyliids, though specific details for this species remain poorly documented.
Chrysopilus andersoni
Chrysopilus andersoni is a species of snipe fly in the family Rhagionidae, described by Leonard in 1930. It belongs to a genus characterized by metallic coloration derived from delicate scales on the exoskeleton. The species is known from the United States, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented compared to some congeners.
Chrysopilus basilaris
Chrysopilus basilaris is a species of snipe fly in the family Rhagionidae. It is found in the United States. Like other members of the genus Chrysopilus, adults are likely characterized by metallic scaling on the exoskeleton. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1823.
Chrysopilus foedus
Striped Sand Grasshopper
Chrysopilus foedus is a species of snipe fly in the family Rhagionidae, first described by Loew in 1861. The genus Chrysopilus comprises approximately 200 species worldwide, with adults typically found in wooded or riparian habitats. Larval stages of Chrysopilus species are generally predatory, inhabiting soil or decaying organic matter. Specific biological details for C. foedus remain poorly documented in published literature.
Chrysopilus modestus
Chrysopilus modestus is a species of snipe fly in the family Rhagionidae, described by Loew in 1872. The genus name derives from Greek 'chryso' (gold) and Latin 'pilus' (hair), referring to the metallic scaled appearance typical of the genus. The specific epithet 'modestus' suggests a relatively unadorned or subdued appearance compared to congeners. As a member of Rhagionidae, it belongs to a family of predatory flies whose larvae typically inhabit moist soil or decaying organic matter.