Muscidae
Guides
Azeliini
Azeliini is a tribe of flies within the family Muscidae, subfamily Muscinae. The tribe contains seven recognized genera, including the well-known genera Hydrotaea and Ophyra. Members of this tribe are generally small to medium-sized muscid flies found in diverse habitats worldwide.
Brontaea
Brontaea is a genus of muscid flies comprising approximately five described species. Species in this genus have been documented in association with bovine feces in pasture environments, where they serve as hosts for parasitoid wasps. The genus has recorded distribution in Europe (Denmark, Norway) and South America (Brazil).
Brontaea humilis
Brontaea humilis is a small muscid fly described by Zetterstedt in 1860. It belongs to the family Muscidae, which includes house flies and related species. The species has been recorded from Norway and Sweden. Very little is known about its biology or ecology, and it appears to be rarely encountered based on limited observation records.
Caricea erythrocera
Caricea erythrocera is a small muscid fly described by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1830. It belongs to the subfamily Coenosiinae, a group of flies commonly associated with moist habitats and decaying organic matter. Records indicate presence in Europe and North America, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Chrysops cincticornis
Ring-clawed Deer Fly
Chrysops cincticornis is a deer fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Walker in 1848. It is commonly known as the Ring-clawed Deer Fly. The species has been documented in Vermont and other parts of the United States, with 291 observations recorded on iNaturalist. Research on this species has focused on its oviposition behavior and fecundity, with laboratory studies showing females deposit eggs in gelatinous masses on mud substrates near water, averaging 156 eggs per female.
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Tiger Flies
Coenosia is a large genus of predatory muscid flies comprising more than 350 species. Members are commonly known as tiger flies due to their active hunting behavior. They are documented from multiple continents including Europe, Asia, and North America. Some species serve as hosts for entomopathogenic fungi in the genus Strongwellsea, which exhibit unusual extended-host survival during infection.
Coenosia atrata
Coenosia atrata is a species of true fly in the family Muscidae, first described by Francis Walker in 1853. It belongs to the subfamily Coenosiinae, a group of predatory flies often found in moist or decaying organic environments. The species name 'atrata' refers to its dark coloration. Beyond its taxonomic placement, specific natural history details for this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Coenosia humilis
tiger fly
Coenosia humilis is a predatory muscid fly commonly known as the tiger fly. It is an active predator of small flying insects, particularly agromyzid leafminers, and has been studied as a biological control agent in agricultural systems. The species is native to Europe but has been recorded in multiple regions including Indonesia and the North Atlantic islands. It exhibits distinct daily activity patterns with peak hunting during morning and afternoon hours.
Coenosia intacta
Coenosia intacta is a species of muscid fly in the subfamily Coenosiinae, described by Francis Walker in 1853. Members of the genus Coenosia are predatory flies commonly known as "tiger flies" due to their predatory habits. The species is part of a diverse group of muscids that exhibit predatory behavior as adults, primarily feeding on other small insects. Specific biological details for C. intacta remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Coenosia nigritarsis
Coenosia nigritarsis is a species of muscid fly in the tribe Coenosiini, subfamily Coenosiinae. The species was described by Stein in 1898 under the basionym Hoplogaster nigritarsis. It belongs to the genus Coenosia, a diverse group of predatory flies commonly known as tiger flies. The specific epithet nigritarsis refers to darkened or black tarsi.
Coenosiini
Coenosiini is a tribe of muscid flies (Diptera: Muscidae) comprising approximately 22 genera distributed worldwide. The tribe is taxonomically active, with new genera and species continuing to be described. Members are generally small to medium-sized flies with ecological roles that remain poorly documented for most taxa.
Drymeia
Drymeia is a genus of true flies in the family Muscidae, tribe Azeliini. The genus was established by Meigen in 1826 and contains approximately 31 documented observations on iNaturalist. As a member of Muscidae, Drymeia species are part of a diverse group of calyptrate flies commonly associated with various terrestrial habitats.
Drymeia flavinervis
Drymeia flavinervis is a species of muscid fly described by Malloch in 1915. It belongs to the tribe Azeliini within the family Muscidae. The species was originally described under the genus Pogonomyia before being transferred to Drymeia. Like other members of the genus, it is likely associated with soil and decaying organic matter habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Hebecnema nigra
Hebecnema nigra is a species of muscid fly described by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1830. It belongs to the subfamily Mydaeinae within the family Muscidae, a group commonly known as house flies and their relatives. The species is documented from the Palearctic region, with confirmed records from several northwestern European countries.
Helina rufitibia
Helina rufitibia is a species of muscid fly in the subfamily Phaoniinae, originally described as Aricia rufitibia by Stein in 1898. The species epithet refers to the reddish coloration of the tibiae. Like other Helina species, it belongs to a diverse genus of small to medium-sized flies commonly found in various terrestrial habitats. The species has been documented through limited observations, with 7 records on iNaturalist suggesting it is either rare or underreported.
Hydrotaea armipes
Hydrotaea armipes is a species of muscid fly in the family Muscidae. It is known from Europe, with distribution records from Portugal (including Madeira and São Miguel Island), Denmark, and Norway. The genus Hydrotaea includes species associated with decomposing organic matter and animal feces. Some Hydrotaea species have been documented as predators of other fly larvae in manure habitats.
Limnophora
Limnophora is a genus of muscid flies established by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1830, comprising approximately 230 species distributed worldwide. The genus is characterized by distinctive silver bands across the thorax and serves as the namesake for the tribe Limnophorini. Species occur in diverse habitats including riverine environments, karst formations such as tufa barriers, and high montane forests. The genus includes notable species such as Limnophora riparia, a documented predator of larval black flies, and L. marginata, which has been studied for genetic and morphometric variation across altitudinal gradients.
Lispe albitarsis
Lispe albitarsis is a muscid fly in the tribe Limnophorini, first described by Stein in 1898. It belongs to a genus of predatory or scavenging flies commonly found in association with moist habitats. The species has been documented through limited observations, with 13 records on iNaturalist suggesting it is infrequently encountered or underreported.
Lispe nasoni
Lispe nasoni is a species of muscid fly in the tribe Limnophorini, described by Stein in 1898. It belongs to a genus of house flies and related dipterans in the family Muscidae. The species has been documented in North America, including observations during citizen science events in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Lispe tentaculata
A muscid fly with Holarctic distribution, widespread across the Palearctic from the Iberian Peninsula to Kamchatka. Males exhibit distinctive modified fore tarsi with brush-like setulae and a finger-like yellow process on tarsomere 1. The species inhabits riparian environments including river banks, pond margins, and forest streams. Taxonomic identification relies on male genitalic structures and specific leg chaetotaxy patterns.
Lispoides aequifrons
Lispoides aequifrons is a species of muscid fly in the tribe Limnophorini, subfamily Coenosiinae. It was described by Stein in 1898. The genus Lispoides is part of a group of muscid flies often associated with moist or semi-aquatic habitats. Very little specific information has been published about the biology of this particular species.
Mesembrina latreillii
Mesembrina latreillii is a large, conspicuous muscid fly historically considered to have a broader distribution but now regarded as restricted to the Nearctic Region following taxonomic revision. The species belongs to a genus typically associated with boreal forests and high-elevation habitats in the Northern Hemisphere.
Morellia
Morellia is a large genus of true flies in the family Muscidae. Members are robust, dark-colored flies with distinctive thoracic patterning. The genus was established by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1830 and contains numerous species distributed across multiple continents.
Musca autumnalis
face fly, autumn housefly
Musca autumnalis, commonly known as the face fly or autumn housefly, is a nonbiting muscid fly native to the Palearctic region that was introduced to North America in the 1940s–1950s. Adults are obligate pests of cattle and horses, feeding on ocular and nasal secretions, tears, saliva, and blood from wounds. The species exhibits pronounced seasonal population dynamics, with peak abundance in late summer and autumn, and undergoes facultative diapause in adults triggered by short photoperiod and cool temperatures. Larval development occurs exclusively in fresh cattle dung, where larvae feed on microbial flora and fauna.
Musca domestica
house fly, common house fly
Musca domestica is a cosmopolitan synanthropic fly and the most abundant insect in confined cattle operations. Adults are small (6–7 mm), gray with four dark longitudinal stripes on the thorax and creamy yellow abdominal sides. They do not bite but feed on blood, sweat, tears, saliva, and other bodily fluids, causing cattle to exhibit defensive behaviors including ear flapping, head shaking, and feeding hesitancy. The species completes development from egg to adult in as little as two weeks under optimal conditions, with up to 12 generations annually in temperate climates. Females deposit 75–150 eggs per batch in decaying organic matter, particularly manure and rotting vegetation. House flies are mechanical vectors of over 200 pathogens including E. coli, and can infest cattle wounds with maggots.
Muscina dorsilinea
Muscina dorsilinea is a species of true fly in the family Muscidae, first described by Frederik Maurits van der Wulp in 1896. It belongs to a genus commonly known as house flies or dump flies, which are frequently associated with decaying organic matter and animal waste. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature, with minimal specific information available beyond its taxonomic classification. Like other Muscina species, it likely plays a role in decomposition and nutrient cycling in environments where organic waste accumulates.
Muscina levida
Dark-horned Muscina
Muscina levida is a muscid fly species in the family Muscidae, commonly known as the Dark-horned Muscina. It is found in Europe, with records from Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and the Azores. The species is one of several Muscina flies associated with decomposing organic matter and has been observed in indoor settings during autumn and winter.
Muscina pascuorum
Pasture Fly, European Scavenger Fly
Muscina pascuorum is a muscid fly native to Europe that has become established across North America. The species is closely allied to M. stabulans and M. levida. It is known to enter homes in autumn and winter, where adults accumulate on windowsills. Larvae develop in fungi, particularly woodland mushrooms, rather than in carrion or manure like many related muscids. The specific epithet 'pascuorum' refers to pastures, reflecting its original European habitat association.
Muscina prolapsa
Muscina prolapsa is a species of fly in the family Muscidae, first described by Harris in 1780. It belongs to a genus of flies commonly known as "dump flies" or "false stable flies" that are frequently associated with animal waste and decomposing organic matter. The species has been recorded in Europe, including Belgium, Denmark, and the Azores (São Jorge and São Miguel islands). Like other Muscina species, it is likely involved in nutrient cycling through decomposition processes and may serve as a biological control agent for pest fly populations.
Muscinae
Muscinae is a subfamily of muscid flies (Diptera: Muscidae) comprising approximately 10 genera and numerous species worldwide. The group includes well-known species such as the house fly (Musca domestica) and related genera including Pyrellia, Ophyra, and Orthellia. Members are characterized by specific morphological features of the adult and immature stages that distinguish them from the sister subfamily Stomoxyinae. The subfamily has significant sanitary and forensic importance due to the synanthropic habits of several species.
Mydaea
Mydaea is a large genus of true flies in the family Muscidae, first described by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1830. The genus belongs to the subfamily Mydaeinae and contains numerous species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Members of this genus are part of the diverse muscid fly fauna, though specific biological details for many species remain poorly documented.
Mydaea flavicornis
Mydaea flavicornis is a species of true fly in the family Muscidae, described by Daniel William Coquillett in 1902. The species epithet "flavicornis" (yellow-horned) refers to a distinctive yellow coloration of the antennae. As a member of the subfamily Mydaeinae, it belongs to a group of muscid flies commonly known as dung flies or stable flies. The genus Mydaea contains numerous species distributed primarily in the Holarctic region, though individual species distributions vary.
Mydaea impedita
Mydaea impedita is a species of muscid fly described by Stein in 1920. It belongs to the subfamily Mydaeinae within the family Muscidae, a group that includes many synanthropic and free-living flies. The species is rarely documented, with only five observations recorded on iNaturalist as of the available data. Like other members of Mydaea, it is presumed to be a generalist decomposer, though specific ecological details remain poorly known.
Mydaea neglecta
Mydaea neglecta is a species of true fly in the family Muscidae, first described by Malloch in 1920. The species belongs to a genus of muscid flies that are widespread in the Holarctic region. Records indicate this species occurs in the northeastern United States, specifically Vermont. As with many Muscidae, detailed biological information remains limited in published literature.
Mydaeinae
Mydaeinae is a subfamily of true flies within the family Muscidae. The subfamily comprises eight recognized genera including Brontaea, Graphomya, Hebecnema, Hemichlora, Mydaea, Myospila, Scenetes, and Scutellomusca. Members of this subfamily are morphologically diverse and occupy various ecological niches. The genus Mydaea is particularly well-represented in observations, suggesting it may be among the more commonly encountered groups. Mydaeinae flies share the general muscid body plan but exhibit distinctive characteristics that warrant their separation from other muscid subfamilies.
Myospila
Myospila is a genus of flies in the family Muscidae, subfamily Mydaeinae. The genus contains over 150 described species distributed across multiple continents. Species-level taxonomy has been extensively revised, with numerous species described from Asia in recent decades.
Myospila meditabunda
Myospila meditabunda is a muscid fly described by Fabricius in 1781. It belongs to the subfamily Mydaeinae within the family Muscidae, a group of true flies commonly known as house flies and their relatives. The species has been recorded from multiple localities across northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, as well as from Madeira Island and the northeastern United States (Vermont).
Neodexiopsis
house flies
Neodexiopsis is a genus of muscid flies (family Muscidae) established by Malloch in 1920. It is one of the two most species-rich genera in the tribe Coenosiini, with at least 80 described species. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision, particularly in relation to species previously placed in the genus Austrocoenosia. Species-level taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships within Neodexiopsis have been investigated using morphological characters of adult flies, including male and female genitalia structures.
Neodexiopsis ovata
Neodexiopsis ovata is a species of muscid fly in the family Muscidae, subfamily Coenosiinae. The species was described by Stein in 1898. As a member of the Muscidae, it belongs to a family commonly known as house flies and their relatives, though specific ecological details for this particular species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Neodexiopsis rufitibia
Neodexiopsis rufitibia is a species of muscid fly in the subfamily Coenosiinae. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized flies whose members are often associated with wetland and riparian habitats. The specific epithet 'rufitibia' refers to reddish coloration on the tibiae. Like other Coenosiinae, it is presumed to have predatory or saprophagous larval habits, though direct observations are limited.
Neomyia
False Greenbottles
Neomyia is a genus of flies in the family Muscidae, commonly known as False Greenbottles. The genus includes species such as Neomyia cornicina, a coprophagous dung fly that inhabits cattle dung and has been extensively studied as a non-target organism affected by veterinary pharmaceuticals in livestock waste. Species in this genus exhibit thermophilous behavior and adapt their spatial and temporal distribution to climatic conditions.
Neomyia cornicina
Small False Greenbottle
Neomyia cornicina is a common coprophagous muscid fly native to the Palaearctic region, with introduced populations in the Nearctic. Adults and larvae feed on cattle dung, contributing to dung decomposition. The species is frequently used as a model organism in ecotoxicological studies examining the effects of veterinary pharmaceuticals on non-target dung fauna.
Opsodexia grisea
Opsodexia grisea is a species of muscid fly (family Muscidae) in the subfamily Phaoniinae. As with many muscid species, detailed biological information is limited in available literature. The genus Opsodexia contains species typically associated with various habitats across North America.
Pachyceramyia
Pachyceramyia is a genus of muscid flies established by Albuquerque in 1955. The genus contains approximately six described species distributed primarily in the Americas. Species are classified within the subfamily Coenosiinae and tribe Limnophorini, a group associated with semi-aquatic and shoreline habitats. The genus name derives from Greek roots suggesting thick or swollen horn-like structures, likely referring to distinctive antennal or facial features.
Pachyceramyia robusta
Pachyceramyia robusta is a species of true fly in the family Muscidae, described by Johnson in 1917. It belongs to the subfamily Coenosiinae and tribe Limnophorini. Very little is documented about this species beyond its taxonomic placement.
Phaonia
Phaonia is a large genus of muscid flies comprising over 750 described species with worldwide distribution. Adults are generally medium-sized flies. Larval stages of studied species develop in decomposing organic matter including animal excrements and decaying plant material, functioning as decomposers in nutrient cycling.
Phaonia apicata
Phaonia apicata is a species of muscid fly in the family Muscidae, described by Johannsen in 1916. It belongs to the genus Phaonia, a diverse group of flies commonly known as house flies and allies. The species has been recorded in North America, specifically in Canada and the United States.
Phaonia subventa
Phaonia subventa is a muscid fly species described by Harris in 1780. It is distributed across parts of the Palaearctic region, with confirmed records from Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and the Azores (São Miguel). The species is relatively well-documented, with over 2,600 observations on iNaturalist.
Phaoniinae
Phaoniinae is a subfamily of true flies (Diptera) within the family Muscidae. All species are classified in the single tribe Phaoniini. The subfamily contains the genus Phaonia and related taxa, which are medium-sized flies often found in diverse terrestrial habitats. Some species groups, such as the P. boleticola-group, have been the subject of recent taxonomic revision in Asia.
Reinwardtiini
Reinwardtiini is a tribe of flies within the family Muscidae, subfamily Muscinae. The tribe comprises 11 recognized genera distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Several genera, notably Philornis and Passeromyia, have attracted research attention due to their specialized ecological associations with birds. The type genus Reinwardtia was established by Brauer & von Bergenstamm in 1890.