Scatopsidae
Guides
Anapausis
Anapausis is a genus of minute black scavenger flies (Diptera: Scatopsidae) in the subfamily Psectrosciarinae, described by Enderlein in 1912. The genus is known from a small number of observations and records, primarily from Scandinavia. Members of Scatopsidae are generally associated with decaying organic matter and moist habitats.
Apiloscatopse
Apiloscatopse is a genus of minute black scavenger flies in the family Scatopsidae, established by Cook in 1974. The genus is characterized by distinctive morphological features of the scutellum. It is known from the Palearctic region with confirmed records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The type species, Apiloscatopse scutellata, serves as the primary reference for understanding the genus.
Apiloscatopse collaris
A minute black fly in the family Scatopsidae, distinguished by a pale collar-like marking on the thorax. The species was described by Melander in 1916 and belongs to a genus of small, often overlooked dipterans commonly known as minute black scavenger flies or dung midges.
Apiloscatopse fattigi
Apiloscatopse fattigi is a species of minute black scavenger flies (family Scatopsidae) described by Cook in 1957. The genus Apiloscatopse belongs to the tribe Scatopsini within subfamily Scatopsinae. Scatopsidae are small, dark flies commonly associated with decaying organic matter. This species is rarely encountered, with only two observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Apiloscatopse uncinata
A small, poorly known scatopsid fly described from North America. The genus name Apiloscatopse indicates a hairless or sparsely pilose condition relative to other scatopsids. The specific epithet uncinata (Latin for 'hooked') likely refers to some hooked structure, though the original description has not been examined. The species was described by Melander in 1916 and remains rarely encountered in collections or literature.
Aspistinae
Aspistinae is a subfamily of minute black scavenger flies within the family Scatopsidae (order Diptera). Members of this subfamily are small, dark-colored flies associated with decaying organic matter. The subfamily is distinguished from other Scatopsidae primarily by genitalic and wing venation characters visible under magnification. Aspistinae represents one of several lineages within the Scatopsidae, a family of flies commonly found in moist, decomposing habitats.
Coboldia
minute black scavenger flies
Coboldia is a genus of minute black scavenger flies in the family Scatopsidae, established by Melander in 1916. The genus is best known from Coboldia fuscipes, a small fly 2–3 mm in body length associated with decomposing organic matter and fungal substrates. Species in this genus occur in the Palearctic region and have been documented in Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden) and Korea, where C. fuscipes is a recognized pest of oyster mushroom cultivation.
Colobostema variatum
Colobostema variatum is a species of minute black scavenger fly in the family Scatopsidae, described by Cook in 1956. The genus Colobostema belongs to the tribe Scatopsini and comprises small, dark-colored flies often associated with decaying organic matter. Little species-specific information has been published for C. variatum.
Cooka
Cooka is a genus of minute black scavenger flies (family Scatopsidae) described by Amorim in 2007. It belongs to the tribe Swammerdamellini within the subfamily Scatopsinae. Members of this genus are small, dark-colored flies associated with decaying organic matter. The genus was established relatively recently, and its species remain poorly documented in scientific literature.
Cooka aterrima
Cooka aterrima is a species of minute black scavenger fly in the family Scatopsidae, described by Melander in 1916. As a member of the tribe Swammerdamellini, it belongs to a group of small, dark-colored dipterans commonly found in decaying organic matter. The species epithet "aterrima" (Latin for "very black") refers to its dark coloration. Scatopsid flies are generally poorly studied, and specific biological details for this species remain limited.
Ectaetia
minute black scavenger flies
Ectaetia is a small genus of minute black scavenger flies in the family Scatopsidae. Adults are generally shiny and black, reaching up to 7 mm in length. The genus has been documented across multiple biogeographic realms including the Nearctic, Palearctic, Oriental, and Neotropical regions. Records from GBIF confirm presence in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Ectaetia clavipes
Ectaetia clavipes is a species of minute black scavenger fly in the family Scatopsidae, described by Loew in 1846. The genus Ectaetia belongs to a group of small, often overlooked dipterans commonly known as black scavenger flies or minute black flies. Species in this family are typically associated with decaying organic matter. The specific epithet 'clavipes' refers to clubbed feet, a morphological trait characteristic of this species.
Holoplagia guamensis
A minute black scavenger fly in the family Scatopsidae. Described from Guam and subsequently recorded from the Hawaiian Islands, the Galápagos Islands, and widely across Brazil. The species is one of the few Holoplagia with documented occurrence outside its type locality.
Parascatopse sonorensis
Parascatopse sonorensis is a species of minute black scavenger fly in the family Scatopsidae, described by Cook in 1955. The specific epithet 'sonorensis' refers to Sonora, suggesting a type locality or known distribution in the Sonoran region. Scatopsidae are generally small, dark-colored flies associated with decaying organic matter. This species belongs to the tribe Rhegmoclematini within the subfamily Scatopsinae.
Psectrosciarinae
Psectrosciarinae is a subfamily of minute black scavenger flies within the family Scatopsidae (order Diptera). These small, dark-colored flies are poorly studied compared to other scatopsid groups, with limited biological and ecological documentation available. The subfamily is distinguished from the nominate subfamily Scatopsinae primarily by subtle morphological differences in wing venation and genitalic structures. Most species are associated with decaying organic matter and moist microhabitats.
Quateiella
Quateiella is a genus of minute black scavenger flies (Diptera: Scatopsidae) established by Cook in 1975. It belongs to the tribe Swammerdamellini within the subfamily Scatopsinae. The genus is poorly known, with no observations recorded on major biodiversity platforms and limited published information available.
Quateiella miniscula
Quateiella miniscula is a minute black scavenger fly (family Scatopsidae) described from North America by Cook in 1956. Members of this genus and family are typically associated with decaying organic matter and moist microhabitats. The specific epithet "miniscula" (from Latin minimus, meaning very small) reflects the extremely small body size characteristic of this species.
Quateiella quatei
Quateiella quatei is a minute black fly in the family Scatopsidae, originally described from the Philippines. The genus Quateiella was established to accommodate species with distinctive male genitalic structures. Like other scatopsids, adults are associated with decaying organic matter. The species epithet honors entomologist L.W. Quate.
Reichertella
Reichertella is a genus of minute black scavenger flies (Diptera: Scatopsidae) described by Enderlein in 1912. It belongs to the tribe Scatopsini within the subfamily Scatopsinae. The genus is known from a small number of observations and records in Northern Europe.
Reichertella producta
Reichertella producta is a minute dipteran in the family Scatopsidae (minute black scavenger flies), described by Cook in 1957. Members of Scatopsidae are typically small, dark-colored flies found in moist, decaying organic matter. The genus Reichertella is poorly documented in available literature, and no specific natural history details have been published for R. producta.
Rhegmoclema
Rhegmoclema is a genus of minute black scavenger flies (Diptera: Scatopsidae) established by Enderlein in 1912. Members of this genus are small, dark-colored flies associated with decaying organic matter. The genus is poorly documented in modern literature, with limited species descriptions and biological data available.
Rhegmoclema edwardsi
Rhegmoclema edwardsi is a species of minute black scavenger fly in the family Scatopsidae, a group of small, dark-colored flies commonly associated with decaying organic matter. The species was described by Collin in 1954. Members of this family are typically found in moist, shaded environments where decomposing vegetation or fungi occur.
Rhegmoclema halteratum
Rhegmoclema halteratum is a minute black fly in the family Scatopsidae, commonly known as minute black scavenger flies or dung midges. The species was described by Meigen in 1838. Members of this genus are characterized by reduced wing venation and are generally associated with decaying organic matter. Like other scatopsids, they are likely decomposers in nutrient cycling, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Rhegmoclematini
Rhegmoclematini is a tribe of minute black scavenger flies (family Scatopsidae) within the subfamily Scatopsinae. These flies are small-bodied dipterans associated with decaying organic matter. The tribe is distinguished by morphological features of the male genitalia, particularly the structure of the claspers. Members are poorly known compared to the related tribe Scatopsini, with limited biological data available.
Rhegmoclemina
Rhegmoclemina is a genus of minute black scavenger flies (Diptera: Scatopsidae) established by Enderlein in 1936. It belongs to the tribe Rhegmoclematini within the subfamily Scatopsinae. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with minimal species-level descriptions and ecological data available. Records indicate presence in Norway and Sweden.
Rhegmoclemina vaginata
Rhegmoclemina vaginata is a species of minute black scavenger fly in the family Scatopsidae, first described by Lundström in 1910. It belongs to the tribe Rhegmoclematini, a group of small dipterans associated with decaying organic matter. The species has been recorded from Norway and Sweden, indicating a Scandinavian distribution pattern. Like other scatopsids, it is likely associated with moist, decomposing substrates in forested environments.
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.
Swammerdamella
Swammerdamella is a genus of minute black scavenger flies in the family Scatopsidae (Diptera). The genus was established by Enderlein in 1912 and is distributed across the western Palaearctic, with records from Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden) and recent first records from Mexico. The genus includes at least one newly described species, S. grogani, from southeastern Mexico.
Swammerdamella bispinosa
Swammerdamella bispinosa is a species of minute black scavenger fly in the family Scatopsidae, described by Cook in 1956. Members of this family are small, dark-colored flies typically found in moist, decaying organic matter. The genus Swammerdamella is part of a group of scatopsid flies characterized by reduced wing venation and compact body form. Very little specific biological information is available for this particular species.
Swammerdamella marginata
Swammerdamella marginata is a species of minute black scavenger fly (Diptera: Scatopsidae) described by Cook in 1956. Members of this family are small, dark-colored flies commonly found in moist, decaying organic matter. The genus Swammerdamella comprises several species of similar morphology that require careful examination for identification.
Swammerdamella pygmaea
Swammerdamella pygmaea is a species of minute black scavenger fly in the family Scatopsidae, first described by Loew in 1864. Members of this family are typically small, dark-colored flies associated with decaying organic matter. The specific epithet "pygmaea" refers to its diminutive size. As with many Scatopsidae, detailed natural history information for this species remains limited in published literature.
Swammerdamella sagittata
Swammerdamella sagittata is a species of minute black scavenger fly in the family Scatopsidae, described by Cook in 1956. Members of this family are small, dark-colored flies typically associated with decaying organic matter. The specific epithet "sagittata" (arrow-shaped) likely refers to a morphological feature of the species. Scatopsid flies are generally poorly studied and inconspicuous, though they play roles in nutrient cycling in various ecosystems.