Sciomyzidae
Guides
Anticheta
Anticheta is a genus of marsh flies in the family Sciomyzidae, commonly known as snail-killing flies. The genus comprises 15 described species divided into two subgenera: Anticheta (14 species) and Paranticheta (1 species). Species within this genus are associated with moist habitats and share the family-wide trait of predation on gastropods. The genus was established by Haliday in 1839 and has a primarily Holarctic distribution.
Anticheta melanosoma
Anticheta melanosoma is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, described by Melander in 1920. The genus Anticheta belongs to the tribe Tetanocerini, a group known for larvae that are predators or parasitoids of freshwater snails. The specific epithet "melanosoma" refers to the dark body coloration characteristic of this species. Records indicate this species occurs in the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont.
Atrichomelina
snail-killing flies
Atrichomelina is a genus of marsh flies (family Sciomyzidae) whose larvae are predators of freshwater snails. The genus was established by Cresson in 1920 and contains at least one described species, Atrichomelina pubera. Like other sciomyzids, members of this genus have aquatic or semi-aquatic immature stages that develop in association with mollusk hosts.
Atrichomelina pubera
Atrichomelina pubera is a sciomyzid fly whose larvae are aquatic or semi-aquatic predators of freshwater snails. The species has been successfully reared in laboratory conditions, enabling documentation of its complete immature stages and feeding behavior. Its biology was formally described in a 1960 study focusing on life history and developmental morphology.
Colobaea
snail-killing flies
Colobaea is a genus of 15 valid species of snail-killing flies in the family Sciomyzidae. Larvae of all reared species kill and consume freshwater nonoperculate pulmonate snails, with varying degrees of specialization. The genus occurs in both Palearctic and Nearctic regions.
Colobaea americana
marsh fly
Colobaea americana is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, first described by Steyskal in 1954. Marsh flies in this family are typically associated with wetland habitats. The species occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Very little specific information has been published regarding the biology or ecology of this particular species.
Dictya atlantica
marsh fly
Dictya atlantica is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, first described by Steyskal in 1954. The species epithet 'atlantica' suggests a connection to the Atlantic region, though specific geographic details remain limited. As a member of Sciomyzidae, it belongs to a family commonly known as marsh flies or snail-killing flies, many of which have aquatic or semi-aquatic larval stages.
Dictya disjuncta
Dictya disjuncta is a poorly known marsh fly (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) described by Orth in 1991. The species remained obscure until its rediscovery, which prompted the first comprehensive description of all life stages including egg, larval instars, puparium, and adult. Like other sciomyzids, it is associated with marshy or wetland habitats. The detailed life cycle description represents a significant contribution to knowledge of this rarely encountered species.
Dictya expansa
Dictya expansa is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, described by Steyskal in 1938. The genus Dictya belongs to the tribe Tetanocerini within the subfamily Sciomyzinae. Marsh flies in this family are typically associated with wetland habitats. The species is known from limited observations, with only two records documented in iNaturalist.
Dictya texensis
Dictya texensis is a species of marsh fly (family Sciomyzidae) described by Curran in 1932. Members of the genus Dictya are recognized by their distinctive wing venation patterns. The family Sciomyzidae comprises predatory or parasitic flies whose larvae typically develop in aquatic or semi-aquatic snails. This species is poorly documented in public sources, with minimal observational records available.
Elgiva
snail-killing flies, marsh flies
Elgiva is a genus of snail-killing flies in the family Sciomyzidae, comprising approximately eight described species. These predatory flies are specialized in hunting aquatic or semi-aquatic snails, with larvae developing as parasitoids or predators of molluscan hosts. The genus has been studied for its biological control potential against pest snail populations.
Elgiva solicita
Elgiva solicita is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, distributed across the Palearctic region from Western Europe to Eastern Asia. Adults are medium-sized flies, 6.5–8 mm in length, with distinctive reddish coloration and characteristic markings on the head and abdomen. The species is known from a broad geographic range including most of Europe, North Africa, and extending into Russia and the Eastern Palearctic.
Hoplodictya
marsh flies
Hoplodictya is a genus of marsh flies (family Sciomyzidae) established by Cresson in 1920. The genus contains five described species distributed across North and South America. As members of Sciomyzidae, these flies are associated with wetland and marsh habitats. The genus is placed in the tribe Tetanocerini, a group characterized by predatory or parasitoid larvae that develop in mollusk hosts.
Limnia
Limnia is a genus of flies in the family Sciomyzidae (marsh flies or snail-killing flies). Species are malacophagous, with larvae that parasitize or prey upon pulmonate snails. The genus occurs across the West-Palearctic region, with some species extending into Asia. Larvae typically develop through three instars, with early instars acting as parasitoids and later instars becoming predators or scavengers.
Limnia boscii
marsh fly
Limnia boscii is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, first described by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1830. The genus Limnia belongs to the tribe Tetanocerini within the subfamily Sciomyzinae. Marsh flies in this family are generally associated with wetland and marsh habitats, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in available sources.
Limnia conica
Limnia conica is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, first described by Steyskal in 1978. Marsh flies in this family are generally associated with wetland and aquatic habitats. The species is recorded from the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont.
Limnia loewi
Limnia loewi is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, described by Steyskal in 1965. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized flies associated with wetland and aquatic habitats. The species epithet honors the German dipterist Hermann Loew. As with other Sciomyzidae, larvae are likely predaceous on freshwater snails, though specific details for this species remain undocumented.
Limnia shannoni
Limnia shannoni is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, first described by Cresson in 1920. It belongs to the tribe Tetanocerini within the subfamily Sciomyzinae. The species is part of a taxonomically challenging group within the genus Limnia. Limited information is available regarding its biology and ecology.
Limnia sparsa
marsh fly
Limnia sparsa is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, described by Loew in 1862. It belongs to the tribe Tetanocerini within the subfamily Sciomyzinae. As a member of Sciomyzidae, it is part of a family commonly known as marsh flies or snail-killing flies, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Oidematops
Oidematops is a monotypic genus of flies in the family Sciomyzidae, containing only the species Oidematops ferrugineus. The genus was established by Cresson in 1920. Members of Sciomyzidae are commonly known as marsh flies or snail-killing flies due to the predatory or parasitic habits of their larvae.
Oidematops ferrugineus
Oidematops ferrugineus is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, described by Cresson in 1920. The genus Oidematops is a small group within the Sciomyzidae, a family commonly known as snail-killing flies due to the predatory or parasitic habits of their larvae on mollusks. This species has been recorded from Vermont and other locations in the United States. Sciomyzidae larvae are typically associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats where their gastropod hosts occur.
Pherbecta limenitis
A species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, described by Steyskal in 1956. Members of this family are commonly known as snail-killing flies due to the predatory habits of their larvae. The genus name Pherbecta and species epithet limenitis suggest taxonomic relationships, though the specific etymology of the species name (shared with the butterfly genus Limenitis) may reflect morphological or ecological parallels rather than direct biological connection.
Pherbellia
snail-killing flies
Pherbellia is a genus of marsh flies in the family Sciomyzidae, comprising approximately 95 species with a global distribution except the Subantarctic region. The genus is notable for its specialized malacophagous ecology: larvae are predators or parasitoids of gastropod mollusks. Species exhibit diverse host associations, targeting both terrestrial and freshwater snails across multiple families including land snails (Anguispira, Succinea), glass snails (Zonitoides), pond snails (Stagnicola), and even operculate freshwater snails (Valvata). This genus represents one of the most extensively studied groups within Sciomyzidae regarding life cycle biology.
Pherbellia albovaria
Pherbellia albovaria is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, first described by Coquillett in 1901. The genus Pherbellia comprises predatory or parasitoid flies associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic mollusks. Like other sciomyzids, this species likely has larvae that develop in association with freshwater snails or slugs, though specific biological details for P. albovaria remain poorly documented. The species name 'albovaria' refers to white (albo-) markings on the legs or body (varia, varied).
Pherbellia nana
Pherbellia nana is a minute species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, measuring approximately 3 mm in length. It is distributed across the Palearctic region, with confirmed records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The species has been included in molecular barcode studies to help clarify phylogenetic relationships within the genus.
Pherbellia schoenherri
Spot-winged Little Snailkiller
Pherbellia schoenherri is a small snail-killing fly in the family Sciomyzidae, distributed across the Palearctic region. Adults measure 4–5 mm and exhibit distinctive wing patterning with spinules on the costal vein. The species is notable for its specialized parasitoid life history: females oviposit on the shells of amber snails (Succineidae), particularly Succinea putris, and the larvae consume the host animal before pupating within the shell. It is among the most common and widespread Sciomyzidae in Europe, with an exceptionally long flight period spanning most of the year.
Pherbellia tenuipes
marsh fly
Pherbellia tenuipes is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, first described by Loew in 1872. Marsh flies in this family are commonly associated with wetland habitats and are known for their slender body forms. The specific epithet 'tenuipes' refers to the slender legs characteristic of this species. Like other members of Sciomyzidae, the larvae likely develop in association with aquatic or semi-aquatic mollusks, though direct observations of P. tenuipes biology remain limited in published literature.
Poecilographa decora
Poecilographa decora is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, first described by Loew in 1864. The genus Poecilographa is part of the tribe Tetanocerini within the subfamily Sciomyzinae. This species belongs to a family commonly known as snail-killing flies, though specific ecological details for P. decora remain poorly documented.
Pteromicra pleuralis
Pteromicra pleuralis is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, originally described as Dichrochira pleuralis by Cresson in 1920. The genus Pteromicra is part of the tribe Sciomyzini within the subfamily Sciomyzinae. Members of this genus are generally small to medium-sized flies associated with wetland habitats. The species is poorly documented in the literature, with minimal published information on its biology and ecology.
Renocera cressoni
Renocera cressoni is a species of fly in the order Diptera, described by Mathis and Knutson in 2018. The genus Renocera is part of the family Sciomyzidae (marsh flies or snail-killing flies), though the family assignment is not explicitly confirmed in the provided sources. The species epithet 'cressoni' honors the entomologist Cresson.
Renocera johnsoni
Renocera johnsoni is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, described by Cresson in 1920. It belongs to the genus Renocera, a group of dipterans commonly known as snail-killing flies due to the predatory or parasitic habits of their larvae on molluscs. The species is currently accepted in taxonomic databases, though some sources list it as a synonym. Very little specific information is documented about this particular species beyond its taxonomic placement.
Renocera striata
Renocera striata is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, a group commonly known as snail-killing flies due to the predatory or parasitic larval associations with molluscs. The species was described by Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1830, originally placed in the genus Sciomyza. It is recorded from parts of northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Like other members of Sciomyzidae, its biology is likely tied to aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats where gastropod hosts occur, though specific details for this species remain poorly documented.
Sciomyza
snail-killing flies
Sciomyza is a genus of marsh flies (Sciomyzidae) whose larvae are specialized predators or parasitoids of freshwater snails. Adults inhabit moist environments near gastropod populations. The genus includes seven described species distributed across northern Europe and North America.
Sciomyza aristalis
Sciomyza aristalis is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, originally described as Dryomyza aristalis by Coquillett in 1901. The genus Sciomyza comprises small to medium-sized flies associated with wetland and marsh habitats. Members of Sciomyzidae are known for their larvae developing in freshwater or moist terrestrial habitats, often associated with molluscan hosts. This species has been documented from a limited number of observations.
Sciomyzoidea
Kelp, Marsh, Thick-headed Flies and Allies
Sciomyzoidea is a superfamily of acalyptrate flies (Diptera: Acalyptratae) comprising at least 11 families, including the well-known Sciomyzidae (snail-killing or marsh flies), Sepsidae (scavenger flies), and Coelopidae (seaweed flies). The superfamily exhibits diverse ecological specializations, with some families associated with marine or coastal habitats and others with freshwater or terrestrial environments. The family Sciomyzidae is particularly notable for its larval predation and parasitism on gastropods.
Sepedomerus
marsh flies
Sepedomerus is a genus of marsh flies in the family Sciomyzidae, established by Steyskal in 1973. The genus contains at least four described species distributed across multiple continents. One species, S. macropus, has been documented as a predator of liver fluke snails, indicating a role in biological control of trematode parasites. Members of this genus are part of the diverse Tetanocerini tribe within the marsh fly family.
Sepedon
Snail-killing Flies
Sepedon is a genus of marsh flies in the family Sciomyzidae, commonly known as snail-killing flies. The genus contains approximately 70 described species distributed across multiple subgenera. All species share a distinctive life history: larvae are obligate predators or parasitoids of aquatic pulmonate snails. Adults are slender, elongate flies found in association with freshwater habitats. Several species have been investigated as potential biological control agents for snails that serve as intermediate hosts of schistosomes and other trematode parasites.
Sepedon americana
American snail-killing fly
Sepedon americana is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, commonly known as snail-killing flies. The species was described by Steyskal in 1951. Like all members of the genus Sepedon, its larvae are obligate predators of aquatic pulmonate snails. The species occurs in North America and has been documented in regions including Colorado. Adults are active early in the year, with observations in February recorded.
Sepedon armipes
marsh fly
Sepedon armipes is a North American species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, commonly known as snail-killing flies. Like other members of its genus, its larvae are aquatic predators of pulmonate snails. The species exhibits early-season activity, with adults observed active as early as February.
Sepedon floridensis
Florida snail-killing fly
A species of snail-killing marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, endemic to Florida. Adults are active in early spring and are associated with aquatic habitats where their predatory larvae feed on pulmonate snails. The species was described by Steyskal in 1951 and belongs to a genus with 20 recognized species in North America, many of which have been investigated for potential biological control of snail vectors of parasitic diseases.
Sepedon gracilicornis
snail-killing fly
Sepedon gracilicornis is a species of snail-killing fly in the family Sciomyzidae, described by Orth in 1986. It belongs to a genus of approximately twenty North American species whose larvae are obligate predators of aquatic pulmonate snails. The species has been documented through limited observations, with records indicating presence in wetland and aquatic edge habitats.
Sepedon tenuicornis
marsh fly
Sepedon tenuicornis is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, first described by Cresson in 1920. Like other members of the genus Sepedon, this species has aquatic predatory larvae that feed on pulmonate snails. The genus comprises approximately 20 recognized species in North America, arranged into species groups based on shared morphological characteristics. Adults are slender flies with elongated bodies, concave faces, and prominent antennae.
Tetanocera
marsh flies, snail-killing flies, slug-killing flies
Tetanocera is a genus of marsh flies (family Sciomyzidae) comprising at least 50 described species distributed across temperate regions. Larvae exhibit diverse ecological strategies: some are aquatic predators of snails, others are terrestrial predators of slugs, and some species show transitional life histories with parasitoid early instars becoming free-living predators in later instars. The genus has undergone at least three independent transitions from aquatic to terrestrial habitats, with associated parallel evolution in larval morphology. Several species, particularly T. elata, have been investigated as potential biological control agents for agricultural pest molluscs.
Tetanocera clara
marsh fly
Tetanocera clara is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, first described by Loew in 1862. It belongs to the tribe Tetanocerini within the subfamily Sciomyzinae. The species is part of a diverse group of flies commonly known as marsh flies or snail-killing flies, many of which have larvae that prey on freshwater mollusks. Specific ecological details for T. clara remain limited in published literature.
Tetanocera ferruginea
common buff snailkiller
Tetanocera ferruginea is a medium to large sciomyzid fly with light brown coloration and no obvious wing markings. It is an obligate malacophage, with larvae preying on non-operculate snails in aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. The species has a Holarctic distribution and is multivoltine, overwintering in the puparial stage. Despite forming large populations, individuals exhibit very limited movement within habitats.
Tetanocera melanostigma
marsh fly
Tetanocera melanostigma is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, described by Steyskal in 1959. It belongs to a genus whose larvae are primarily predatory on aquatic snails and slugs. The species is part of a family known for its ecological role in controlling mollusk populations in wetland habitats.
Tetanocera plebeja
marsh fly
Tetanocera plebeja is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, described by Loew in 1862. Marsh flies in this family are generally associated with wet habitats and are known for their larval predation on aquatic snails. The species has been documented in the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont.
Tetanocera plumosa
marsh fly
Tetanocera plumosa is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, first described by Loew in 1847. The species belongs to the tribe Tetanocerini and is one of multiple species within the genus Tetanocera. Like other members of Sciomyzidae, it is associated with marsh and wetland habitats. Specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Tetanocera valida
Tetanocera valida is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, first described by Loew in 1862. Marsh flies in this family are commonly associated with wetland habitats. The species has been recorded in the United States, including Vermont. As with other members of Sciomyzidae, its larvae are likely associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic environments.
Tetanocera vicina
Tetanocera vicina is a species of marsh fly in the family Sciomyzidae, first described by Macquart in 1844. Members of this genus are commonly known as marsh flies or snail-killing flies due to their specialized larval biology. The species is part of a group of Diptera whose larvae are predators or parasitoids of freshwater snails, playing a distinctive ecological role in aquatic ecosystems. As with many Sciomyzidae, detailed species-level biology remains incompletely documented.