Long-legged-fly
Guides
Gymnopternus difficilis
Gymnopternus difficilis is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Loew in 1861. The genus Gymnopternus belongs to the subfamily Dolichopodinae, a diverse group of predatory flies commonly known as long-legged flies. Members of this family are typically associated with moist habitats and are known for their metallic coloration and elongated legs. This species is documented from a limited number of observations, with 7 records on iNaturalist suggesting it is rarely encountered or potentially underreported.
Gymnopternus exilis
Gymnopternus exilis is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Loew in 1861. It belongs to the subfamily Dolichopodinae. The genus Gymnopternus comprises small to medium-sized predatory flies characterized by their elongated legs. Very little specific information is available about this particular species beyond its taxonomic placement.
Gymnopternus flavus
Gymnopternus flavus is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae. It was described by Loew in 1861. The species belongs to a genus of predatory flies characterized by elongated legs and metallic coloration. Records indicate occurrence in Vermont and elsewhere in the United States.
Gymnopternus subulatus
Gymnopternus subulatus is a species of long-legged fly described by Loew in 1861. It belongs to the family Dolichopodidae, a diverse group of small to medium-sized predatory flies known for their elongated legs. The genus Gymnopternus is part of the subfamily Dolichopodinae.
Gymnopternus vockerothi
Gymnopternus vockerothi is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Robinson in 1964. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive wing venation and elongated legs typical of the family. The species epithet honors Canadian entomologist John R. Vockeroth.
Hydatostega plumbea
Hydatostega plumbea is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Aldrich in 1911. It belongs to the subfamily Hydrophorinae, a group of predatory flies often associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The genus Hydatostega is characterized by species with hydrophilous tendencies. Information on this species remains sparse, with only 5 observations recorded on iNaturalist as of the available data.
Hydatostega viridiflos
Hydatostega viridiflos is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae. It is distributed across North America with three recognized subspecies showing distinct geographic patterns. The nominate subspecies occurs along the Atlantic coast of northeastern North America, while the other two subspecies are found in western regions.
Hydrophorus aestuum
Hydrophorus aestuum is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae. Like other members of the genus Hydrophorus, it is adapted to semi-aquatic environments where it skates across water surfaces. The species was described by Loew in 1869. Adults are predatory on small insects and other invertebrates, including mosquito larvae.
Hydrophorus chrysologus
Hydrophorus chrysologus is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, subfamily Hydrophorinae. It belongs to a genus specialized for life on water surfaces, where adults skate across puddles, intermittent streams, and lake margins using surface tension. Like other dolichopodids, it is predatory on small insects and other arthropods. The species was described by Walker in 1849.
Liancalus querulus
Liancalus querulus is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, first described by Osten Sacken in 1877. As a member of this large and diverse family, it shares the characteristic elongated legs and metallic coloration typical of dolichopodids. The genus Liancalus includes species associated with moist habitats, though specific details for L. querulus remain limited in available sources.
Medetera aberrans
Medetera aberrans is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Wheeler in 1899. It occurs in eastern North America, where adults are frequently encountered in wet grasslands and marshes. The species exhibits metallic green coloration with yellow legs, characteristic of many dolichopodids. It belongs to the aberrans species group within Medetera, a group that has alternatively been treated as the separate genus Saccopheronta.
Medetera apicalis
Medetera apicalis is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae. It occurs in Europe and North America, with distribution records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The species is associated with old-growth forest habitats, where adults have been observed beneath bark and on fruiting bodies of wood-decaying fungi such as Fomitopsis pinicola. As a member of the genus Medetera, it shares the characteristic behavior of perching on tree trunks in a distinctive tiptoe posture.
Medetera bistriata
Medetera bistriata is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae. Adults are commonly observed on tree trunks in pine forests, where they adopt a characteristic tiptoe posture. The larvae are specialized predators of bark beetles, particularly species in the genera Dendroctonus and Ips. The species is recognized as an important biological control agent of the southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis).
Nanomyina barbata
Nanomyina barbata is a species of long-legged fly (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) described by Aldrich in 1902. The species was originally described in the genus Chrysotimus before being transferred to Nanomyina. It belongs to the subfamily Peloropeodinae, a group of small to medium-sized predatory flies. Limited published information exists regarding its biology and ecology.
Neoparentia caudata
Neoparentia caudata is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, subfamily Sympycninae. First described by Van Duzee in 1917, this species is currently accepted in the genus Neoparentia. The genus Neoparentia is part of the diverse Dolichopodidae family, which comprises thousands of species of predatory flies known for their elongated legs. Very little specific information is available about the biology or ecology of this particular species.
Neurigona aestiva
Neurigona aestiva is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae. It was described by Van Duzee in 1913. Very few observations of this species exist in public databases, with only four records documented on iNaturalist. The genus Neurigona belongs to a diverse family of predatory flies characterized by their elongated legs and metallic coloration.
Neurigona deformis
Neurigona deformis is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Van Duzee in 1913. The genus Neurigona is a large and widespread group within this family, though individual species are often poorly documented. Like other dolichopodids, members of this genus are generally associated with moist terrestrial habitats. Specific biological details for N. deformis remain limited in published literature.
Paraclius pumilio
Paraclius pumilio is a species of long-legged fly (Dolichopodidae) described by Loew in 1872. It belongs to the genus Paraclius, a group of predatory flies within the subfamily Dolichopodinae. The species has been documented through limited iNaturalist observations, suggesting it is either rare, under-recorded, or restricted in range. As with other dolichopodids, it likely occupies moist habitats near water or vegetation.
Parathalassius abela
Parathalassius abela is a species of long-legged fly (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) described from the Nearctic Region in 2017. It was one of nine new species described in a revision of the genus Parathalassius. The species has been characterized using COI mitochondrial DNA barcode sequences and included in morphological phylogenetic analyses. As a member of the subfamily Parathalassiinae, it belongs to a group associated with sandy coastal habitats, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited.
Pelastoneurus kansensis
Pelastoneurus kansensis is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, first described by Aldrich in 1894. The specific epithet "kansensis" indicates the species was described from Kansas. As a member of the Dolichopodidae, it belongs to a diverse family of predatory flies commonly known as long-legged flies or dance flies. The genus Pelastoneurus is part of the subfamily Dolichopodinae.
Pelastoneurus longicauda
Pelastoneurus longicauda is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, a group characterized by elongated legs and metallic coloration. The species was described by Loew in 1861. Beyond basic taxonomic placement, specific biological details for this species remain undocumented in available sources.
Pelastoneurus vagans
Pelastoneurus vagans is a species of long-legged fly (family Dolichopodidae) first described by Loew in 1861. As a member of the subfamily Dolichopodinae, it shares the characteristic elongated legs and slender body typical of this diverse family of predatory flies. The species is documented in entomological collections and databases, with 173 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Plagioneurus univittatus
Plagioneurus univittatus is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae. It is the sole member of the genus Plagioneurus and the only species in the subfamily Plagioneurinae. The species was described by Loew in 1857. It is distinguished from all other dolichopodid flies by its unique subfamily-level classification.
Rhaphium lugubre
Rhaphium lugubre is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Loew in 1861. As a member of the Rhaphiinae subfamily, it belongs to a diverse group of predatory flies known for their elongated legs and agile flight. The genus Rhaphium contains numerous species distributed across the Holarctic region, though specific details about this particular species remain limited in published literature.
Rhaphium melampus
Rhaphium melampus is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, subfamily Rhaphiinae. The species was described by Hermann Loew in 1861. Like other members of the genus Rhaphium, it belongs to a group of predatory flies characterized by their elongated legs. The species has been documented in iNaturalist with 65 observations, suggesting it is not extremely rare, though detailed biological studies appear limited.
Scellus virago
Scellus virago is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, first described by Aldrich in 1907. Members of this genus are associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. As with other Dolichopodidae, adults are predatory. The species is known from limited observational records.
Sciapus platypterus
Sciapus platypterus is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae. The species was first described by Fabricius in 1805 under the basionym Dolichopus platypterus. It occurs across the Palearctic region with confirmed records from Belgium. As a member of Dolichopodidae, it belongs to a family known for predatory habits and distinctive elongated legs.
Systenus
Systenus is a genus of long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae: Medeterinae) characterized by larvae that develop in dendrotelme habitats—water-filled hollow tree cavities lined with organic soil. The genus is globally uncommon in collections, likely due to its arboreal adult associations and specialized larval habitat requirements. Despite this rarity, some localities show remarkable species richness; for example, eight species were collected from a single site in Costa Rica. The genus occurs in both tropical and temperate regions, with records from Central America, South America, Europe, and North America.
Systenus albimanus
Systenus albimanus is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Wirth in 1952. It belongs to the subfamily Medeterinae, a group of small to medium-sized predatory flies commonly found in moist habitats. The species is characterized by its distinctive white fore tarsi, referenced in its specific epithet 'albimanus' (white hand). Like other dolichopodids, it is presumed to be predatory as both adult and larval stages, though specific ecological studies on this species are limited.
Systenus eucercus
Systenus eucercus is a species of long-legged fly (Dolichopodidae) described by Steyskal in 1970. It belongs to the subfamily Medeterinae, a group characterized by slender bodies and elongated legs. The genus Systenus is distributed across the Holarctic region, with species often associated with moist terrestrial habitats. As with most dolichopodids, adults are predatory and contribute to insect population control in their ecosystems.
Tachytrechus dilaticosta
Tachytrechus dilaticosta is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, first described by Van Duzee in 1927. The genus Tachytrechus belongs to a diverse family of small predatory flies known for their metallic coloration and agile flight. Like other dolichopodids, members of this genus are active predators on other small insects. The species is rarely recorded, with minimal observational data available.
Tachytrechus floridensis
Tachytrechus floridensis is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Aldrich in 1896. The genus Tachytrechus belongs to the diverse subfamily Dolichopodinae, which includes small to medium-sized predatory flies often found in sunny habitats. Members of this genus share the family's characteristic metallic coloration and elongated legs. The specific epithet "floridensis" indicates a connection to Florida, though detailed natural history information for this particular species remains limited in available sources.
Tachytrechus moechus
Tachytrechus moechus is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Loew in 1861. Members of this genus are part of a diverse family of small to medium predatory flies known for their metallic coloration and agile flight. Like other dolichopodids, they are predatory on small insects. The genus Tachytrechus is distinguished from related genera by specific morphological features of the male genitalia and leg ornamentation.
Tachytrechus sanus
Tachytrechus sanus is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Osten Sacken in 1877. As a member of this diverse family, it shares the characteristic elongated legs and predatory habits typical of dolichopodids. The genus Tachytrechus is known for species that inhabit ground-level and open habitats rather than aquatic environments.
Thrypticus willistoni
Thrypticus willistoni is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, first described by Wheeler in 1890. The genus Thrypticus comprises small to minute flies associated with grasses and sedges, with larvae that develop within plant stems. Adults are characterized by reduced wing venation and distinctive leg proportions typical of the family.
Xanthochlorus helvinus
Xanthochlorus helvinus is a species of long-legged fly in the family Dolichopodidae, described by Loew in 1861. The genus Xanthochlorus is characterized by yellowish-green coloration, reflected in its name (from Greek xanthos 'yellow' and chloros 'green'). As a member of Dolichopodidae, it belongs to one of the largest families of Diptera, known for their elongated legs and predatory habits.