Snail-killing-flies
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.
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.
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.
Euthycera
Euthycera is a genus of marsh flies in the family Sciomyzidae, commonly known as snail-killing flies. The genus contains approximately 30 described species distributed primarily across the Palearctic region. Members of this genus are predators or parasitoids of freshwater snails and slugs, making them significant biological control agents. The genus was established by Latreille in 1829 and is classified within the tribe Tetanocerini.
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.
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.
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.
Sciomyzidae
Marsh Flies, Snail-killing Flies
Sciomyzidae is a family of acalyptrate flies in the order Diptera, commonly known as marsh flies or snail-killing flies. The family contains 543 extant species in 63 genera with worldwide distribution, though poorly represented in the Australasian and Oceanian realms. Adults are small to medium-sized flies (2–14 mm) typically found in wet habitats. The larvae are predominantly predators or parasites of freshwater and terrestrial mollusks, particularly snails and slugs, making this family notable for its specialized feeding biology.
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.
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.