Fungus-gnat
Guides
Acnemia
Acnemia is a genus of fungus gnats in the family Mycetophilidae, established by Winnertz in 1863. The genus contains over 40 described species with an almost cosmopolitan distribution. Species occur across North America, Europe, Asia, and other regions. Acnemia sibirica, described in 1979, was recently redescribed after being overlooked in taxonomic databases due to nomenclatural confusion.
Amedia floridana
Amedia floridana is a species of gall midge (family Cecidomyiidae) described by Jaschhof in 1997. The species belongs to the subfamily Lestremiinae and tribe Strobliellini. As a member of this genus, it is likely associated with fungal substrates, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
Bradysia
darkwinged fungus gnats, indoor soil gnats
Bradysia is a large genus of sciarid fungus gnats comprising over 500 described species. The genus is best known for species that are major agricultural pests, particularly in greenhouse and indoor cultivation settings where larvae feed on plant roots and fungi. Several species, including B. cellarum, B. impatiens, and B. odoriphaga, have been extensively studied for their economic impact on liliaceous crops, edible fungi, and ornamental plants. The genus also includes species that function as pollinators of certain winter-flowering plants.
Bradysia giraudii
Bradysia giraudii is a species of dark-winged fungus gnat in the family Sciaridae. The species was originally described as Phora giraudii by Egger in 1862 and has been placed in the genus Megaselia (family Phoridae) in some taxonomic treatments, though current consensus places it in Bradysia. The genus Bradysia includes species commonly associated with decaying organic matter and houseplant pots.
Catocha barberi
Catocha barberi is a species of gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae, first described by E.P. Felt in 1913. The species belongs to the subfamily Lestremiinae and tribe Catochini. Very little published information exists regarding its biology, ecology, or distribution. The genus Catocha comprises small, delicate flies whose larvae are typically associated with fungal substrates or decaying organic matter.
Cordyla
Cordyla is a genus of fungus gnats in the family Mycetophilidae, subfamily Mycetophilinae, tribe Exechiini. These small flies are characterized by a hunchbacked body profile, elongate coxae, and relatively long legs compared to similar groups. The genus has been documented from Eocene fossil deposits, including well-preserved specimens from the Green River Formation of Colorado. Species-level identification typically requires examination of eye structure and other subtle morphological features.
Cordyla manca
Cordyla manca is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, first described by Johannsen in 1912. It belongs to the subfamily Mycetophilinae and tribe Exechiini. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be associated with fungal habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species is known from very few observations.
Cordyla volucris
Cordyla volucris is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, subfamily Mycetophilinae, described by Johannsen in 1909. The genus Cordyla is characterized by a hunchbacked thorax and relatively long legs compared to similar fungus gnat families. Fossil specimens attributed to this group have been identified from the Eocene Green River Formation in Colorado, though definitive species-level identification of fossil material remains challenging. The family Mycetophilidae has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with several subgroups elevated to family rank.
Cramptonomyia spenceri
Cramptonomyia spenceri is a species of fungus gnat in the family Pachyneuridae, first described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1931. It belongs to a small family of primitive nematoceran flies. The species is distinct from the mosquito Aedes spencerii, with which it shares a specific epithet but differs in family, genus, and ecological role. Available sources provide taxonomic placement but lack detailed biological information.
Diadocidia ferruginosa
Diadocidia ferruginosa is a Palearctic fungus gnat species in the family Diadocidiidae. Larvae construct long dry silken tubes beneath bark or within decaying wood. The species has been associated with the fungal genus Peniophora. Adult ecology remains poorly documented.
Docosia dichroa
Docosia dichroa is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, first described by German entomologist Hermann Loew in 1870. The species belongs to the subfamily Leiinae and tribe Leiini, placing it among the more derived lineages of fungus gnats. As with other members of Mycetophilidae, the larvae likely develop in association with fungi, though specific life history details remain poorly documented.
Eudicrana
Eudicrana is a genus of fungus gnats (Diptera: Mycetophilidae: Sciophilinae) comprising approximately 13 described species. The genus is distinguished by the absence of a mid ocellus, lateral ocelli positioned adjacent to the eye margins, and wing venation where R4 forms an elongated rectangular cell. Four new species were recently described from high Andean ecosystems in Colombia, representing the first records from the extreme northern range of the Andes. Natural history and biology remain poorly documented for most species.
Eudicrana obumbrata
Eudicrana obumbrata is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, first described by Loew in 1870. It belongs to the subfamily Sciophilinae, a group characterized by larvae that develop in fungal substrates. The species is part of a genus distributed across the Holarctic region.
Gnoriste macra
Gnoriste macra is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, described by Johannsen in 1912. It belongs to the subfamily Gnoristinae, a group of mycetophilids typically associated with fungal habitats. The species is known from Denmark based on distribution records, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Heteropterna cressoni
Heteropterna cressoni is a species of predatory fungus gnat in the family Keroplatidae. The family Keroplatidae comprises small to medium-sized flies, many of which have predatory larvae that inhabit moist environments such as fungi, decaying wood, or caves. As a predatory fungus gnat, this species likely has larvae that feed on other small invertebrates within these habitats. The species was described by Fisher in 1941.
Keroplatus militaris
Keroplatus militaris is a species of predatory fungus gnat in the family Keroplatidae, described by Johannsen in 1910. It belongs to a genus characterized by bioluminescent larvae in many species, though specific details for this species remain limited. The species epithet "militaris" reflects its naming rather than documented military associations. Available records are sparse, with minimal observational data.
Leia bivittata
fungus gnat
Leia bivittata is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1829. It belongs to the genus Leia, a group of small flies commonly associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats. The species epithet "bivittata" refers to two longitudinal stripes or bands, likely describing a distinctive color pattern on the body or wings. Like other members of Mycetophilidae, the larvae are presumed to develop in moist, decomposing substrates.
Leia oblectabilis
Leia oblectabilis is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, originally described by Loew in 1870 under the basionym Glaphyroptera oblectabilis. The species belongs to the subfamily Leiinae and tribe Leiini. Like other members of this family, it is associated with fungal habitats. Available records are limited, with few documented observations.
Leia sublunata
Leia sublunata is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae. The species was described by Loew in 1870. Like other members of its family, it likely inhabits moist, forested environments where fungal resources are abundant. The genus Leia contains multiple species of small, delicate flies associated with decaying organic matter and fungi.
Leia varia
Leia varia is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, first described by Walker in 1848. It belongs to the subfamily Leiinae and tribe Leiini. Adults are distinguished by prominent morphological features on their legs.
Leia ventralis
Leia ventralis is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, described by Thomas Say in 1824. As a member of the genus Leia, it belongs to a group of small flies commonly associated with fungal habitats. The species is part of a diverse family of over 3,000 described species worldwide, though specific ecological details for this particular species remain poorly documented.
Leia winthemii
Leia winthemii is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, first described by Lehmann in 1822. As a member of this family, it is associated with fungal habitats. The species has been documented through limited observations, with records available on iNaturalist.
Leptomorphus bifasciatus
fungus gnat
Leptomorphus bifasciatus is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae. The species was originally described by Thomas Say in 1824 as Sciophila bifasciatus. A neotype was designated for this species in a 2012 comprehensive taxonomic revision of the genus Leptomorphus, which recognized 37 valid species worldwide. The genus is characterized by distinctive wing venation and male genitalia morphology.
Leptomorphus hyalinus
Leptomorphus hyalinus is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, tribe Sciophilini. It was described by Coquillett in 1901. A 2012 taxonomic revision synonymized Leptomorphus ypsilon Johannsen with L. hyalinus. The species is one of 37 valid species in a genus-level revision that brought the total extant species of Leptomorphus to 45.
Leptomorphus nebulosus
fungus gnat
Leptomorphus nebulosus is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, first described by Walker in 1848. The species occurs in North America, with records from both Canada and the United States. Like other members of its family, it is associated with fungal habitats. The genus Leptomorphus belongs to the subfamily Sciophilinae within the diverse fungus gnat family.
Lygistorrhina sanctaecatharinae
Lygistorrhina sanctaecatharinae is a species of long-beaked fungus gnat described by Thompson in 1975. It belongs to the family Lygistorrhinidae, a group of small, slender flies associated with decaying wood and fungal habitats. The species is documented from North America.
Macrocera clara
Macrocera clara is a species of fungus gnat in the family Keroplatidae, described by Loew in 1870. Like other members of this family, it belongs to a group of small, delicate flies whose larvae typically inhabit moist environments and feed on fungal mycelia. The genus Macrocera contains numerous species that are often challenging to distinguish without close examination. Available records indicate limited observational data, with 28 documented observations on iNaturalist.
Monoclona rufilatera
Monoclona rufilatera is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae. It is known from Scandinavian countries including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The species is one of relatively few documented observations within its genus.
Mycetobia divergens
wood gnat
Mycetobia divergens is a species of wood gnat in the family Anisopodidae, first described by Francis Walker in 1856. The genus Mycetobia is the type genus of the subfamily Mycetobiinae within this small family of nematoceran flies. Wood gnats in this family are generally associated with decaying wood and fungal habitats. Specific biological details for M. divergens remain poorly documented in published literature.
Mycetophila unipunctata
Mycetophila unipunctata is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, a diverse group of small flies associated with decaying fungi and organic matter. The species was described by Wiedemann in 1818. Like other members of its genus, it likely inhabits moist forest environments where fungal resources are abundant.
Mycomya dichaeta
Mycomya dichaeta is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, described by Fisher in 1937. It belongs to the subfamily Mycomyinae. The species epithet "dichaeta" refers to the characteristic two-bristled condition of certain body parts. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with fungal habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Mycomya imitans
Mycomya imitans is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, described by Johannsen in 1910. The species is classified within the subgenus Calomycomya. Like other members of its family, it is likely associated with fungal habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Mycomya obliqua
Mycomya obliqua is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, described by Thomas Say in 1824. As a member of the subfamily Mycomyinae, it belongs to a diverse group of small flies whose larvae typically develop in decaying organic matter, particularly fungi. The species epithet "obliqua" refers to an oblique or slanted feature of its morphology, though the specific trait referenced is not detailed in available sources. Very few observations of this species have been recorded, with only three documented occurrences in iNaturalist.
Neoempheria balioptera
fungus gnat
Neoempheria balioptera is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, subfamily Mycomyinae. The species was first described by Loew in 1870. Larvae of this species have been documented feeding on mushrooms in Brazil, representing the first record of Neoempheria biology in the Neotropical region. This discovery provided insights into the life cycle and feeding habits of a genus whose natural history was previously poorly known in South America.
Neoempheria illustris
Neoempheria illustris is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, first described by Johannsen in 1910. It belongs to a genus of approximately 1,100 species distributed across South and Central America. The species was the first Neoempheria documented from South America with confirmed larval associations to host fungi, representing a significant contribution to understanding Neotropical fungivore diversity.
Neoempheria macularis
Neoempheria macularis is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, first described by Johannsen in 1910. It belongs to a genus containing over 1,100 species in South and Central America. The species was the first Neoempheria species documented with confirmed larval associations with fungi in the Neotropical region, specifically reared from mushrooms in Brazil.
Odontosciara nigra
dark-winged fungus gnat
Odontosciara nigra is a species of dark-winged fungus gnat in the family Sciaridae. The species was first described by Wiedemann in 1821. As a member of the Sciaridae family, it belongs to a group of small flies commonly associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats.
Phronia
Phronia is a genus of fungus gnats (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) established by Winnertz in 1863. Species in this genus are found in boreal and arctic regions, with at least one species, Phronia reducta, documented from Salla in Finnish Lapland and Siberia. The genus belongs to the tribe Mycetophilini within the subfamily Mycetophilinae. Like other fungus gnats, members of Phronia are associated with decomposing organic matter and fungal habitats.
Phytosciara greylockensis
Phytosciara greylockensis is a species of dark-winged fungus gnat in the family Sciaridae, described in 2018 from Massachusetts. The species epithet references Mount Greylock, the highest point in the state. Like other members of the genus Phytosciara, it belongs to a group of small, delicate flies associated with moist habitats and fungal substrates. The species is known from a limited number of observations, reflecting both its recent description and the general undersampling of sciarid diversity.
Platyura
Platyura is a genus of fungus gnats in the family Keroplatidae, order Diptera. The genus is part of the tribe Orfeliini within the subfamily Keroplatinae. It contains at least two extant species: Platyura marginata (Palearctic) and Platyura pectoralis (Nearctic). The genus has a fossil record extending to the Cretaceous period through the related fossil genus Paleoplatyura, representing a rare case of an extant insect genus present in the Mesozoic.
Platyura manteri
Platyura manteri is a species of fungus gnat in the family Keroplatidae, described from North America in 1931. Members of this genus are recognized by their elongated, often flattened bodies and distinctive wing venation. The species is rarely recorded, with only one known observation in iNaturalist.
Pnyxia scabiei
potato scab gnat
Pnyxia scabiei, commonly known as the potato scab gnat, is a species of dark-winged fungus gnat in the family Sciaridae. The species was first described by Hopkins in 1895. Very little is documented about its biology or ecology beyond its taxonomic placement.
Proceroplatus elegans
Proceroplatus elegans is a species of fungus gnat in the family Keroplatidae, described by Coquillett in 1895. Members of this family are commonly known as fungus gnats or predatory fungus gnats, with larvae that typically inhabit moist environments and feed on fungi or other small organisms. The genus Proceroplatus belongs to the tribe Orfeliini within the subfamily Keroplatinae. As with many Keroplatidae, the species likely exhibits bioluminescent properties in its larval stage, a characteristic feature of some members of this family.
Rondaniella dimidiata
Rondaniella dimidiata is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae. It belongs to the subfamily Leiinae and tribe Rondaniellini. The species has been documented in Norway and Sweden. Like other members of its family, it is likely associated with fungal habitats, though specific ecological details remain limited in published sources.
Sceptonia
Sceptonia is a genus of fungus gnats in the family Mycetophilidae, established by Winnertz in 1863. Species in this genus are small, delicate flies associated with forest habitats. The genus occurs across northern Europe and has been documented in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. As with other Mycetophilidae, larvae are presumed to develop in fungal substrates, though specific life history details for most Sceptonia species remain poorly documented.
Sciaridae
dark-winged fungus gnats, black fungus gnats
Sciaridae are a family of small, dark-colored flies commonly known as dark-winged fungus gnats. Adults range from 1–11 mm in length, typically under 5 mm. The family is among the least studied of the large Diptera families due to small size and taxonomic difficulty. Approximately 1,700 species are described globally, with an estimated 20,000 species awaiting discovery, primarily in tropical regions. Larvae develop in moist, decaying organic matter and play significant roles in decomposition and nutrient cycling.
Sciophila
fungus gnat
Sciophila is a genus of fungus gnats in the family Mycetophilidae, established by Meigen in 1818. These small flies are characterized by their association with fungal habitats and shadowy environments. The genus includes both widespread Palaearctic species and Neotropical species that have been intercepted as glasshouse contaminants. Species such as Sciophila holopaineni from Finnish Lapland and S. fractinervis from the Neotropics demonstrate the genus's broad geographic range and ecological diversity.
Symmerus
Symmerus is a Holarctic genus of fungus gnats in the family Ditomyiidae (Diptera). The genus comprises approximately 16 described species distributed across the northern hemisphere, with records from Europe, North America, and Asia. A systematic revision recognized two subgenera: Symmerus s. str. and Psilosymmerus, the latter established with S. coqulus as type species. The genus has been subject to phylogenetic analysis using Hennig's phylogenetic systematics, with transantarctic relationships documented in the related genus Australosymmerus.
Symmerus lautus
Symmerus lautus is a Holarctic species of fungus gnat in the family Ditomyiidae (subfamily Ditomyiinae). The species was originally described as Plesiastina lauta by Loew in 1869 and has been known under the synonyms S. tristis and S. dilutus. The genus Symmerus belongs to a group of non-brachyceran Diptera commonly referred to as fungus gnats, though specific biological details for S. lautus remain poorly documented.
Symmerus vockerothi
Symmerus vockerothi is a species of fungus gnat in the family Ditomyiidae, described by Munroe in 1974 from eastern North America. It is classified within the subgenus Psilosymmerus, one of two subgenera established for the Holarctic genus Symmerus. The species was described in a comprehensive systematic revision that also included limited biological observations.