Limoniidae
Guides
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.
Austrolimnophila
Austrolimnophila is a genus of crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) established by Charles Paul Alexander in 1920. The genus contains approximately 15 described species distributed across four subgenera: Archilimnophila, Austrolimnophila, Limnophilaspis, Mediophragma, and Phragmocrypta. Species occur in regions including Scandinavia, South America, and other localities. The genus is taxonomically well-defined within the Limnophilinae subfamily.
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.
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.
Cheilotrichia stigmatica
Cheilotrichia stigmatica is a species of crane fly in the family Limoniidae, originally described as Empeda stigmatica by Osten Sacken in 1869. It belongs to a genus of small, delicate crane flies characterized by reduced wing venation. The species occurs in the Nearctic region across Canada and the eastern United States.
Cryptolabis paradoxa
Cryptolabis paradoxa is a species of crane fly in the family Limoniidae, first described by Osten Sacken in 1860. It belongs to a genus of small, delicate flies commonly found in moist terrestrial habitats. The species occurs across eastern North America from Ontario and the Canadian Maritimes south to Arkansas, Tennessee, and Florida.
Dactylolabis
Dactylolabis is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, distinguished by its placement in the monotypic subfamily Dactylolabinae. The genus contains multiple species distributed across several subgenera. At least some species are known to be madicolous, inhabiting thin water films on rock surfaces in seepage areas. The genus was established by Osten Sacken in 1860.
Dactylolabis cubitalis
Dactylolabis cubitalis is a species of limoniid crane fly described by Osten Sacken in 1869. It is a small, delicate fly belonging to a genus characterized by distinctive leg modifications. The species has a documented but restricted distribution in the eastern United States.
Dactylolabis vestigipennis
Dactylolabis vestigipennis is a small crane fly species in the family Limoniidae, first described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1950. The species is known from limited observations in the southwestern United States. Like other limoniid crane flies, it belongs to a diverse family of delicate, long-legged flies often found in moist habitats.
Decodes nr-horariana
Decodes nr-horariana is a crane fly species in the family Limoniidae. The 'nr-' prefix indicates this is a near-reference specimen that closely resembles D. horariana but has not been formally confirmed as that species through detailed taxonomic examination. Limoniid crane flies are generally small to medium-sized flies with reduced wing venation compared to their larger relatives in Tipulidae.
Dicranoptycha
Dicranoptycha is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, established by Osten Sacken in 1860. These insects belong to the diverse limoniid crane fly radiation, which are generally smaller and more delicate than the more familiar tipulid crane flies. The genus has been documented from parts of northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Dicranoptycha elsa
Dicranoptycha elsa is a species of limoniid crane fly in the family Limoniidae, first described by Alexander & Alexander in 1929. It belongs to a large genus of crane flies characterized by distinctive morphological features. The species occurs in eastern North America with a range extending from southern Canada to the southeastern United States.
Elephantomyia
Elephantomyia is a genus of crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) characterized by an exceptionally elongated rostrum used for nectar feeding. The genus has a broad Palearctic distribution spanning Europe, Russia, East Asia, and fossil records from Baltic amber. Larvae are saproxylic, developing in moist decaying wood of hardwoods and conifers. Multiple subgenera have been described, including Elephantomyia, Elephantomyina, Elephantomyodes, and Xenoelephantomyia.
Elephantomyia westwoodi
Elephantomyia westwoodi is a species of limoniid crane fly in the family Limoniidae. The species is known to have three recognized subspecies: E. w. adirondacensis, E. w. antillarum, and the nominate E. w. westwoodi. It belongs to the genus Elephantomyia, a group of small, delicate crane flies. Limited information is available regarding its specific biology and ecology.
Elliptera
Elliptera is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, established by Schiner in 1863. The genus comprises ten described species distributed across the Holarctic region, including North America, Europe, and East Asia. Immature stages have been described for only a few species, with larvae inhabiting aquatic, hygropetric environments on wet rocks in mountainous areas.
Ellipteroides
Ellipteroides is a genus of crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae: Chioneinae) comprising 122 extant species distributed across all biogeographical regions except Australasia. The genus includes five subgenera (Ellipteroides, Progonomyia, Protogonomyia, Ptilostenodes, Ramagonomyia, Sivagonomyia) plus three newly proposed subgenera (Afroellipteroides, Iberiopteroides, Photogonomyia) and a new fossil subgenus Jantares from Eocene Baltic amber. Species are small blackish insects with characteristic yellow thoracic bands and abdominal stripes. The fossil record includes two Eocene species: E. kishenehn from Middle Eocene Montana and E. hansi from Priabonian Baltic amber (38-34 million years ago).
Ellipteroides slossonae
Ellipteroides slossonae is a species of crane fly in the family Limoniidae, described by Alexander in 1914. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive wing venation patterns. The species occurs across a broad range in North and Central America, with records extending from the central United States through Mexico to Panama and Jamaica.
Epiphragma arizonense
Epiphragma arizonense is a crane fly species described by Alexander in 1946. The species is known from the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Like other members of the genus Epiphragma, it is distinguished by distinctive wing patterning and male genitalia morphology. The male was redescribed and illustrated in a 2012 taxonomic review of North American Epiphragma species.
Erioptera
Erioptera is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, established by Meigen in 1803. The genus contains multiple subgenera and species distributed across temperate regions including North America, Europe, and Asia. At least one species, Erioptera squalida, has been documented as a root-piercing insect with specialized spiracular structures for accessing plant root gas spaces.
Erioptera parva
Erioptera parva is a species of limoniid crane fly in the family Limoniidae. The species was described by Osten Sacken in 1859. It belongs to the genus Erioptera, which comprises small to medium-sized crane flies. The species has two recognized subspecies: Erioptera parva parva and Erioptera parva brasiliensis.
Erioptera venusta
Erioptera venusta is a species of limoniid crane fly in the family Limoniidae. It is currently treated as a synonym of Ilisia venusta. The species occurs in the Nearctic region, with records from Canada and the United States.
Erioptera vespertina
Erioptera vespertina is a species of crane fly in the family Limoniidae, first described by Osten Sacken in 1860. It belongs to a large genus of small, delicate flies commonly known as limoniid crane flies. The species is documented from the Nearctic region with records spanning eastern and central North America. Like other members of Limoniidae, it is presumed to have aquatic or semi-aquatic larval stages, though specific life history details for this species remain poorly documented.
Eugnophomyia
Eugnophomyia is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, subfamily Chioneinae. The genus was established by Charles Paul Alexander in 1947 and contains approximately 30 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. Members are characterized by their relatively small to medium size and typical limoniid morphology. The genus shows greatest diversity in the Neotropical region, with several species extending into the Nearctic.
Euphylidorea
Euphylidorea is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, established by Charles Paul Alexander in 1972. It belongs to the subfamily Limnophilinae, a group of small to medium-sized crane flies often associated with moist habitats. The genus has been recorded from Scandinavia and Denmark, with over 500 observations on iNaturalist. Species-level taxonomy and biology remain poorly documented in public sources.
Gnophomyia
Gnophomyia is a genus of crane flies (family Limoniidae) established by Osten Sacken in 1860. The genus contains species whose larvae are specialized bark-dwellers, feeding on phloem tissue. Immature stages have been described for several species including G. lugubris, G. acheron, G. viridipennis, and G. luctuosa. The genus is recorded from Europe and North America.
Gonomyia
Gonomyia is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, established by Meigen in 1818. The genus contains numerous species organized into multiple subgenera, including Gonomyia, Gonomyina, Idiocerodes, Leiponeura, Megalipophleps, Neolipophleps, Paralipophleps, Prolipophleps, and Teuchogonomyia. Fossil evidence from Cretaceous amber deposits in Spain and Myanmar indicates the genus originated by at least the Upper Albian, approximately 100 million years ago. Species diversity spans multiple continents with modern records from Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Gonomyia puer
Gonomyia puer is a species of limoniid crane fly described by Alexander in 1913. It belongs to the family Limoniidae, a large group of generally small, delicate crane flies. The species has a broad distribution spanning the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, with records from the eastern United States through the Caribbean and into South America. Like other members of its family, it is likely associated with moist habitats where larvae develop in decaying organic matter.
Gonomyia sulphurella
Gonomyia sulphurella is a small crane fly in the family Limoniidae, described by Osten Sacken in 1860. The species is characterized by its yellowish coloration, reflected in its specific epithet 'sulphurella' (sulfur-yellow). It occurs across a broad range of eastern and central North America, from southern Canada through the eastern United States. Like other limoniid crane flies, it is a delicate, long-legged fly associated with moist terrestrial habitats.
Helius
Helius is a genus of crane flies (family Limoniidae) within the order Diptera. Species in this genus are small to medium-sized flies characterized by relatively short antennae and reduced wing venation compared to other crane fly groups. The genus has been recorded from northern Europe and has over 1000 observations on citizen science platforms.
Helius flavipes
Helius flavipes is a species of limoniid crane fly in the family Limoniidae. It occurs across a broad geographic range in North America, from Canada south through the United States. As a member of the crane fly family Limoniidae, it belongs to a diverse group of delicate, long-legged flies commonly found in moist terrestrial and semi-aquatic habitats.
Hesperoconopa
Hesperoconopa is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, first described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1948. The genus contains eight recognized species distributed across three disjunct regions: North America, India, and the Russian Far East. Members belong to the subfamily Chioneinae, a diverse group of small to medium-sized crane flies. The genus name derives from Greek roots, with 'hespero-' referring to the west and 'conopa' relating to crane flies.
Hexatoma longicornis
Hexatoma longicornis is a species of limoniid crane fly in the family Limoniidae, order Diptera. The species was originally described as Anisomera longicornis by Walker in 1848. It is distributed across the Nearctic region, ranging from Alaska through Canada to the eastern and central United States.
Hexatoma sculleni
Hexatoma sculleni is a crane fly species in the family Limoniidae, described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1943. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized crane flies characterized by reduced wing venation and relatively short legs compared to true crane flies (Tipulidae). The species is known from a limited geographic range in the western United States. Very few observations exist, suggesting it is either genuinely rare or underreported.
Hexatomini
Hexatomini is a tribe of limoniid crane flies (family Limoniidae) comprising approximately 16 genera and at least 250 described species. The tribe includes several well-known genera such as Hexatoma, Limnophila, and Elephantomyia. Members are generally small to medium-sized crane flies distinguished from related tribes by specific wing venation patterns and genitalia structures. The group has a cosmopolitan distribution with species documented across multiple continents.
Limnophila antennata
Limnophila antennata is a species of crane fly in the family Limoniidae, originally described by Coquillett in 1905. The species is currently classified under the genus Prionolabis as a synonym. It is known from the Nearctic region, with records from Canada and the western United States.
Limnophila rufibasis
Limnophila rufibasis is a crane fly species originally described by Osten Sacken in 1860. It is currently recognized as a synonym of Prionolabis rufibasis, reflecting taxonomic reclassification from Limnophila to Prionolabis. The species belongs to the family Limoniidae, a diverse group of small to medium-sized crane flies. Records indicate presence in eastern North America.
Limonia
Limonia is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, established by Meigen in 1803. The genus is taxonomically broad and serves as a provisional grouping for species that may require reclassification to other genera. Species of Limonia are found across multiple continents, with documented diversity in East Asia, Europe, and North America. The genus includes both widespread and regionally endemic species.
Limonia bryanti
Limonia bryanti is a species of crane fly in the family Limoniidae, originally described by Johnson in 1909. The species is currently classified under the genus Rhipidia, with Limonia bryanti treated as a synonym. It occurs across a broad range of the United States, from Colorado to Maine and southward to Arizona, Louisiana, and Florida.
Limonia communis
Limonia communis is a species of limoniid crane fly in the family Limoniidae. It is currently recognized as a synonym of Geranomyia communis. The species has been recorded across North America from Alaska and British Columbia east to Newfoundland, and south to California, Louisiana, and Florida. As a member of the Limoniidae, it belongs to a diverse group of crane flies commonly found in moist terrestrial and semi-aquatic habitats.
Limonia indigena
Limonia indigena is a species of limoniid crane fly described by Osten Sacken in 1860. It is recognized as the type species of the genus Limonia. Three subspecies have been described: L. i. indigena, L. i. jacksoni, and L. i. loloensis.
Limonia liberta
Limonia liberta is a species of limoniid crane fly originally described by Osten Sacken in 1859. The species is currently classified as a synonym of Dicranomyia liberta. It belongs to the family Limoniidae, a large group of crane flies distinguished from the more familiar Tipulidae by their reduced wing venation and other morphological features. The species has been recorded across a broad transcontinental range spanning North America and Eurasia.
Limonia maculata
Limonia maculata is a species of crane fly in the family Limoniidae, originally described by Meigen in 1804. The species is currently treated as a synonym of Eloeophila maculata (Meigen, 1804), having been reassigned to the genus Idioptera and subsequently to Eloeophila. It belongs to the subfamily Limnophilinae, a group of crane flies often associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The species has been recorded from Belgium and Denmark based on GBIF distribution data.
Limonia novaeangliae
Limonia novaeangliae is a species of limoniid crane fly described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1929. It is currently recognized as a synonym of Metalimnobia novaeangliae. The species is known from the northeastern United States.
Limonia triocellata
Limonia triocellata is a small to medium-sized limoniid crane fly distinguished by three eye-like spots (ocelli) on each wing. It occurs in eastern North America with two distinct flight periods in spring and fall. The species exhibits clear sexual dimorphism in abdominal structure. Taxonomic placement remains unsettled, with some authorities placing it in the genus Metalimnobia.
Limonia triphaea
Limonia triphaea is a species of crane fly in the family Limoniidae, described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1954. It is currently recognized as a synonym of Metalimnobia triphaea. The species is known from a single locality in Oregon, USA. Very little information is available about its biology or ecology.
Limonia ypsilon
Limonia ypsilon is a species of crane fly in the family Limoniidae, described by Alexander in 1959. It is currently recognized as a synonym of Dicranomyia ypsilon. The species is known from the Nearctic region, with records from Washington southward through California to Arizona. As a member of Limoniidae, it belongs to a large family of delicate, long-legged flies commonly known as limoniid crane flies.
Molophilus
Molophilus is a large genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, first described by John Curtis in 1833. The genus contains numerous species distributed across multiple continents, with recognized subgeneric divisions including Austromolophilus, Eumolophilus, Molophilus, and others. Species-level biology has been documented for some members, including studies of larval ecology and adult biology in M. ater.
Neocladura
Neocladura is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, subfamily Chioneinae. The genus contains two described species: N. americana and N. delicatula. It is restricted to North America.
Neocladura americana
Neocladura americana is a species of crane fly in the family Limoniidae, described by Alexander in 1917. It is known from the western United States, with records from Washington south to California. As a member of the Chioneinae subfamily, it belongs to a diverse group of small to medium-sized crane flies. Very little has been published regarding its specific biology, habitat preferences, or ecological role.
Neolimnophila placida
Placid Crane Fly
Neolimnophila placida is a crane fly species in the family Limoniidae, subfamily Chioneinae. It is widely distributed across the Holarctic region, occurring in both the Nearctic and Palaearctic realms. The species has been documented from northern North America through much of Europe and across northern Asia to Japan. Like other limoniid crane flies, it is associated with moist habitats where larvae develop in decaying organic matter.