Nematocera
Guides
Scatopse notata
Black Compost Fly
Scatopse notata is a minute dipteran in the family Scatopsidae, commonly known as the Black Compost Fly. The species occurs across the Palearctic region and has been recorded from isolated subantarctic islands including South Georgia and Amsterdam Island. Larvae develop in decomposing organic matter and serve as hosts for the microsporidian parasite Plistophora scatopsi, which infects the mid-gut epithelium across all life stages.
Sciaroidea
Fungus Gnats and Gall Midges
Sciaroidea is a superfamily of nematoceran flies in the infraorder Bibionomorpha, comprising approximately 16 families and over 15,000 described species. The group includes fungus gnats, gall midges, and related families, with larvae predominantly associated with fungi, dead wood, and soil. Fennoscandia represents a major biodiversity hotspot for this group, harboring roughly 1,000 species—about 83% of Europe's total. Despite substantial DNA barcoding efforts yielding over 56,000 barcode index numbers (BINs), only 5% currently have scientific names assigned, indicating vast undescribed diversity.
Sylvicola punctatus
Sylvicola punctatus is a species of wood gnat in the family Anisopodidae, a group of small to medium-sized flies characterized by their distinctive wing venation. The species is distributed across the Palearctic region, with documented records from northern Europe including Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Like other members of the genus Sylvicola, adults are typically found in wooded or forested habitats where their larvae develop in decaying organic matter.
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.
Symplecta cana
Symplecta cana is a crane fly species in the family Limoniidae, subgenus Symplecta sensu stricto. It has a broad distribution across northern North America, extending from Alaska and Arctic Canada southward throughout the contiguous United States, and reaching into Mexico and Guatemala. Taxonomic revision has clarified its distinction from the closely related S. hybrida, with which it occurs sympatrically and syntopically in some regions.
Tanyderidae
Primitive crane flies
Tanyderidae, commonly called primitive crane flies, are a small family of long, delicate nematoceran flies with about 40 extant species. They represent a relict lineage within Diptera, retaining primitive wing venation including five complete branches of the radial vein. Adults are recognized by their spotted or mottled wings and are typically found near streams, often resting on vegetation or hanging beneath bridges. Larvae inhabit wet, decaying wood or sandy and gravelly stream margins. The family has an extensive fossil record dating to the Late Triassic, with numerous extinct genera known from amber deposits.
Tanyptera dorsalis
Antlered Crane Fly
Tanyptera dorsalis is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, commonly known as the Antlered Crane Fly. Males are distinguished by prominent antler-like projections on the head. The species occurs in eastern North America, with records from Canada and the United States.
crane-flyTipulidaeantleredsexual-dimorphismNearcticDipteraNematocerainsectmale-ornamentationTanypteraNorth-AmericaCanadaUnited-StatesMichiganVermontOntarioQuebecMinnesotaIllinoisTennesseeNorth-CarolinaArkansasNewfoundlandTipulomorphaHexapodaPterygotaInsectaArthropodaAnimaliaWalker-1848speciesacceptedexact-matchobservediNaturalistGBIFdistributionbiologyreviewmalehead-projectionsornamentationsexual-selectionidentificationdiagnostic-traitfield-guideentomologynatural-historybiodiversitytaxonomysystematicsphylogenyevolutionecologyhabitatseasonalitylife-cyclereproductionbehaviorecosystem-rolehuman-relevancesimilar-taxamisconceptionsextra-detailstagscompletenesshas-inferred-contentconfidence-notessourceevidencemetadatafull-textabstracttitlejournalsubjectsDOIpaper-summaryGBIF-taxonomy-matchiNaturalist-taxonWikipedia-summaryobservations-countpreferred-common-namekingdomphylumclassorderfamilygenusrankstatusmatch-typedistribution-recordsVermont-USUSUSAMinnOntQueNfldIllArkTennNCAntlered-Crane-Fly1220NoneTanyptera-dorsalisWalker,-1848EXACTMinnesota-to-Ontario,-Quebec-and-Newfoundland,-south-to-Illinois,-Arkansas,-Tennessee-and-North-CarolinahighfalseAbstract-content-was-empty;-metadata-extracted-from-document-structure-only.-Full-text-not-available-in-provided-source.-Distribution-information-limited-to-title-mention-of-Michigan-and-general-'review-of-its-distribution-and-biology.'The-antlered-crane-fly,-Tanyptera-dorsalis-(Walker)-(Diptera:-Tipulidae),-in-Michigan-and-a-Review-of-Its-Distribution-and-BiologyNortheastern-Naturalist10.1656/045.017.0216{"summary":-"The-antlered-crane-fly,-Tanyptera-dorsalis-(Walker)-(Diptera:-Tipulidae),-is-a-species-of-crane-fly-with-distinctive-antler-like-projections-on-the-head-of-males.-The-source-provides-a-review-of-its-distribution-and-biology-in-Michigan-and-broader-range.",-"habitat":-"",-"distribution":-"Michigan;-broader-distribution-reviewed-in-the-paper",-"diet":-"",-"hostAssociations":-[],-"lifeCycle":-"",-"reproduction":-"",-"notableBehaviors":-"",-"ecosystemRole":-"",-"confidenceNotes":-"Abstract-content-was-empty;-metadata-extracted-from-document-structure-only.-Full-text-not-available-in-provided-source.-Distribution-information-limited-to-title-mention-of-Michigan-and-general-'review-of-its-distribution-and-biology.'"}Matched-scientific-name:-Tanyptera-dorsalis-(Walker,-1848)Canada,-USA-(Minn-to-Ont,-Que-and-Nfld,-south-to-Ill,-Ark,-Tenn-and-NC).;-Nearctic;-Canada,-USA-(Minn-to-Ont,-Que-and-Nfld,-south-to-Ill,-Ark,-Tenn-and-NC).;-Nearctic;-Vermont-US,-USThaumaleidae
solitary midges, trickle midges, madicolous midges
Thaumaleidae is a family of small nematoceran flies in the order Diptera, closely related to Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae, and Simuliidae. Adults are non-feeding, stocky, yellow to brown flies measuring 3–4 mm, with short antennae no longer than the head. The family comprises approximately 202 extant species in seven genera (Afrothaumalea, Androprosopa, Austrothaumalea, Neothaumalea, Niphta, Thaumalea, Trichothaumalea) plus one fossil genus. Larvae inhabit thin water films on rock surfaces alongside waterfalls and torrents, where they graze on diatoms.
Threticus bicolor
Threticus bicolor is a species of moth fly in the family Psychodidae, originally described as Psychoda bicolor by Nathan Banks in 1894. The species epithet 'bicolor' refers to its two-colored appearance. Like other members of Psychodidae, it belongs to a group of small, often hairy flies commonly known as moth flies or drain flies. The genus Threticus is part of the diverse psychodid fauna, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Tipula jacintoensis
Tipula jacintoensis is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It was described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1946. The species is known only from California, where it has been recorded in the San Jacinto Mountains. As a member of the genus Tipula, it shares the characteristic elongated body and extremely long legs typical of crane flies, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented.
Tipula morrisoni
Tipula morrisoni is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, first described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1915. It belongs to the diverse genus Tipula, which contains hundreds of species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. As a crane fly, it exhibits the characteristic elongated body, extremely long legs, and single pair of wings typical of the family. The species is known from the eastern and central United States.
Tipulidae
Large Crane Flies, Crane Flies
Tipulidae is a large family of true flies in the order Diptera, comprising over 4,200 described species in more than 30 genera. Members are commonly known as crane flies or large crane flies, characterized by their elongated bodies and exceptionally long, slender legs. Adults are typically short-lived and often do not feed; their primary purpose is reproduction. Larvae occupy diverse moist habitats including soil, leaf litter, decaying wood, and aquatic environments, where most feed on decaying organic matter. The family has a fossil record extending to the Late Jurassic.
DipteraNematoceracrane-fliesdecomposerssaprophagousshort-lived-adultsmating-swarmsturfgrass-pestsharmless-to-humansworldwide-distributionLate-Jurassic-fossilsCharles-Paul-Alexandermaxillary-palps13-antennal-segmentsLimoniidaePediciidaemosquito-hawk-misnomerdaddy-longlegs-confusionleatherjacketsaquatic-larvaeterrestrial-larvaespring-emergencelight-attractionwingless-snow-crane-flies-in-genus-Chionea-(now-Limoniidae)Tipulomorpha
crane flies, crane flies and allies
Tipulomorpha is an infraorder of Nematocera containing crane flies and allied families, representing one of the largest and most diverse groups of true flies. The infraorder comprises five extant families: Tipulidae (large crane flies), Limoniidae (limoniid crane flies), Pediciidae (hairy-eyed crane flies), Cylindrotomidae (long-bodied crane flies), and Trichoceridae (winter crane flies). With approximately 15,000 described species in the family Tipulidae alone, this group exhibits remarkable morphological diversity, particularly in larval forms. Adults are characterized by elongated bodies, extremely long legs, and single pair of membranous wings. Larval habitats range from aquatic environments to terrestrial soils, decaying wood, and even snow-covered surfaces in specialized groups.
Trioxina
Trioxina is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, subfamily Chioneinae. These insects are characterized by their elongated bodies and long, slender legs typical of the group. The genus is distinguished by specific wing venation patterns and genitalic structures. Species within Trioxina are generally small to medium-sized limoniid crane flies.