Grass-flies
Guides
Calamoncosis
frit flies
Calamoncosis is a genus of small flies in the family Chloropidae (frit flies), established by Enderlein in 1911. The genus contains species distributed across both Palearctic and Nearctic regions. Nearctic fauna includes at least five described species, with most specimens collected from peatlands and marshes in eastern North America. Some species have documented associations with wetland grasses including common reed (Phragmites australis).
Cetema
Cetema is a genus of small flies in the family Chloropidae, established by Hendel in 1907. The genus belongs to the tribe Cetematini within the subfamily Chloropinae. Species in this genus are found in Europe and the Nearctic region, with documented occurrences in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
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.
Ectecephala
grass flies
Ectecephala is a genus of small flies in the family Chloropidae, commonly known as grass flies. The genus contains approximately six described species, first established by Macquart in 1851. Species within this genus are found in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions.
Elliponeura
Elliponeura is a genus of small flies in the family Chloropidae, commonly known as grass flies. The genus was established by Loew in 1869. Only one species, E. debilis, has been formally described. Members of this genus are poorly studied, with limited biological and ecological data available.
Epichlorops
grass flies
Epichlorops is a genus of small flies in the family Chloropidae, commonly known as grass flies. The genus was established by Becker in 1910 and contains at least five described species distributed across the Holarctic region, with records from Europe, North America, and China. Species in this genus are associated with grassland habitats. The genus is taxonomically placed within the tribe Chloropini, subfamily Chloropinae.
Fiebrigella
Fiebrigella is a genus of small flies in the family Chloropidae, first described by Duda in 1921. Members of this genus belong to the subfamily Oscinellinae and tribe Fibrigellini. Chloropid flies, commonly known as grass flies or frit flies, are generally small and often associated with grasses and other monocot plants. The genus remains poorly documented in public sources, with limited species-level information available.
Hippelatini
Hippelatini is a tribe of small flies within the family Chloropidae (frit flies or grass flies), subfamily Oscinellinae. Members are generally small, delicate dipterans associated with grassy or herbaceous habitats. The tribe was established by Enderlein in 1936. Hippelatini includes genera such as Hippelates, which contains species sometimes referred to as eye gnats due to their attraction to eye secretions.
Homaluroides
grass flies
Homaluroides is a genus of grass flies (family Chloropidae) containing approximately 9 described species. The genus was established by Sabrosky in 1980. Species in this genus are distributed across North America, with records from the United States and Mexico. They are part of the tribe Cetematini within the subfamily Chloropinae.
Lasiosina
Lasiosina is a genus of small flies in the family Chloropidae, established by Becker in 1910. Members of this genus are distributed across Europe and the Nearctic region, with records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. At least one species, Lasiosina devitata, has been documented as a host for parasitoid wasps in the family Eulophidae.
Meromyza
grass flies, frit flies
Meromyza is a genus of grass flies (Diptera: Chloropidae) distributed across the Palaearctic, Nearctic, and parts of Asia including China and Mongolia. Species within this genus are primarily associated with grasses (Poaceae), with many developing on wild grass species and several recognized as pests of cereal crops including wheat, barley, and oats. The genus exhibits varying degrees of host plant specialization, from oligophagous species with broad grass host ranges to monophagous specialists. Larvae are stem-borers that feed internally on host plant tissues, with some species causing economically significant damage to small grains.
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.
Neodiplotoxa
Neodiplotoxa is a genus of small flies in the family Chloropidae, established by Malloch in 1914. The genus contains four described species distributed in the Americas: N. pulchripes, N. nigricans, N. mexicana, and N. albiseta. Chloropidae, commonly known as grass flies or frit flies, are generally associated with grasses and sedges. Species-level biology of Neodiplotoxa remains poorly documented.
Opetiophora
Opetiophora is a genus of small flies in the family Chloropidae (frit flies or grass flies), established by Loew in 1872. Members of this genus belong to the subfamily Oscinellinae, a diverse group within Chloropidae. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with minimal species-level descriptions and few verified observations. Like other chloropids, these flies are likely associated with grassland or wetland habitats where their larvae develop in plant tissues or decaying organic matter.
Opetiophora straminea
Opetiophora straminea is a species of frit fly in the family Chloropidae, described by Hermann Loew in 1872. It belongs to a small genus of grass flies whose biology remains poorly documented. Records indicate it occurs in the Nearctic region.
Opomyzidae
Grass Flies
Opomyzidae is a family of acalyptrate Diptera commonly known as grass flies. Adults are small, slender flies ranging from yellow to brown, reddish, or black. Larvae are stem-borers in grasses (Poaceae), including cereal crops, with some species causing significant agricultural damage. The family is distributed primarily in temperate regions of the boreal hemisphere, with an autumn-spring life cycle adapted to grass phenology.
Oscinellinae
grass flies
Oscinellinae is a subfamily of frit flies (family Chloropidae) comprising at least 40 genera and approximately 180 described species. Members are commonly known as grass flies and are associated primarily with monocotyledonous plants, with some species acting as secondary invaders of other plants. The subfamily has been documented engaging in kleptoparasitic behavior, feeding on fluids from prey captured by predatory insects. Species are distributed across multiple continents with documented records from Russia, Argentina, and other regions.
Parectecephala maculiceps
Parectecephala maculiceps is a species of frit fly in the family Chloropidae, described by Becker in 1912. The genus Parectecephala comprises small flies associated with grassland and wetland habitats. This species is poorly documented, with only two observations recorded on iNaturalist. Like other chloropids, it likely has a close ecological association with grasses or sedges.
Pseudopachychaeta
grass flies
Pseudopachychaeta is a genus of grass flies in the family Chloropidae, established by Strobl in 1902. The genus contains at least one described species, P. approximatonervis. It is classified within the tribe Diplotoxini, subfamily Chloropinae. Records indicate presence in northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.