Small-fly
Guides
Fannia sociella
Fannia sociella is a small, slender fly in the family Fanniidae, closely resembling the lesser house fly (Fannia canicularis). It is native to the Palearctic region and is notably smaller and more slender than the common house fly (Musca domestica). The species is documented from scattered localities including parts of Scandinavia and the Azores.
Heleomyza serrata
Heleomyza serrata is a small fly in the family Heleomyzidae, measuring 3–7 mm in body length. The species is distinguished by specific chaetotaxy: setae present on the propleura, multiple pairs of setae on the prothorax, and at most one hair on the mesopleura. Males possess distinctive genitalia with rudimentary aedeagus, unexpanded epandrium base, and surstyles that are much longer than the epandrium and evenly curved throughout their length.
Microchrysa polita
black-horned gem, black-horned gem fly
Microchrysa polita, commonly known as the black-horned gem or black-horned gem fly, is a small species of soldier fly in the family Stratiomyidae. Adults are active from March through September and are found in deciduous woodland edges, hedgerows, gardens, and parks across Europe, Asia, and North America. The species is notable for its distinctive black antennae and predominantly black legs.
Pericoma signata
moth fly
Pericoma signata is a species of moth fly in the family Psychodidae, described by Banks in 1901. It is found in eastern North America. The wing length measures approximately 2 mm. Like other moth flies, adults are characterized by their hairy bodies and wings, giving them a moth-like appearance. The species belongs to a family commonly associated with moist habitats and organic matter.
Phasia aldrichii
Phasia aldrichii is a small tachinid fly (3–5 mm body length) distributed across most of North America, with additional records in Europe and Asia. The species was described by Townsend in 1891 and later synonymized with Phasia karczewskii. As a member of the genus Phasia, it belongs to a diverse group of parasitoid flies whose larvae develop inside other insects.
Platypalpus harpiger
Platypalpus harpiger is a species of hybotid dance fly described by Melander in 1924. It belongs to the family Hybotidae, a group of predatory flies formerly classified within Empididae. Hybotid dance flies are small, active predators that occupy diverse microhabitats and are known for their distinctive mating swarms. Very little specific information has been published about the biology of this particular species.
Platypalpus holosericus
Platypalpus holosericus is a small predatory fly in the family Hybotidae, commonly known as hybotid dance flies. The species was described by Melander in 1924. Like other members of the genus Platypalpus, it likely occupies specific feeding niches and exhibits the characteristic predatory behavior of the family. Adults are known to seize prey with modified front legs and use extraoral digestion.
Stichopogon
Stichopogon is a genus of small robber flies (family Asilidae) in the subfamily Dasypogoninae, comprising at least 100 described species worldwide. These diminutive predatory flies are most diverse in arid and semi-arid regions, with strong representation in North America, the Neotropics, North Africa, and the Middle East. The genus is ecologically associated with open, barren habitats—particularly sandy, gravelly, or rocky substrates near water or in dry washes—where they perch low to the ground and ambush small arthropod prey.
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.