Crane flies (tipilidae),They
have a long and thin body and very long, thin legs. The family Tipulidae
includes three subfamilies:
Tipulidae, Cylindrotominae and Limoniinae. They live in the same way.
The adult crane flies don’t eat oreat only a little nectar. They live only
to mate and live not long.
The female has a pointed tip which she uses to push her eggs into the soil.
The larvae
feed on the roots of plants. They can bee a pestbecause the damage to lawns.
Crane fly (Ctenophora
pectinicornis)
Crane fly (Nephrotoma
flavipalpis) The wings are folded.
Tipula paludosa. Female.
This species has 14 segments of the antenna. De Tipula oleracea is very
similar, but has 13 segments.
The wings are not folded in rest.
April - October, but most common in autumn. Length: 12-17 mm.
Tipula oleracea. Female.
Photo: May.
April - October The Tipula oleracea flies from April - June and a
second generation from August - October. The larvae of the second
generation appear in September and hibernate.
Ptychoptera albimana.
Female. Family: Ptychopteridae, the Phantom Crane Flies. (No
crane fly!!) Recognizable: The white tarses on the backlegs. Similar
in appearance to Crane flies. The larvae live
in muddy shores, where they feed on algae.
The adults are found most often from late spring through to autumn in
shaded, moist environs.
Gnats
Window Gnat Sylvicola spec. Family
Anisopodidae
Another long legged fly. It is related to the
family Chironomidae (Non-Biting Gnats or Midge Flies)
No fear, it is a non-biting fly.
I don't know wich species. A common window gnat is Sylvicola fenestralis. In
the Netherlands are six species.
They have 16 segments of the antenna.
They have got their name because they are attracted to light especially
illuminated windows.
Their color also can be reddish.
This photo is from March 2009
The larvae lives of vegetable waste.
German: Fenstermücken
Sciaridae spec. Family Sciaridae
March 2009.
I have in the garden a trunk of a dead apple tree.
There ofen are different species of flies on it. Two little gnats (5
mm) were walking on this trunk.
There are many little gnats, belonging to the family Sciaridae Usually
they are not to determine from a photo. Length 1 mm to 7 mm.
They also are non-biting flies. Ze steken niet.Larvae often live in decaying
organic material.
The same month I found a much smaller species. About 2 mm.
Much smaller species:
St Mark's fly (Bibio marci) Family
Bibionidae
St Mark's flies are no flies. They
are gnats. You can see them in the early spring (often in groups). The males have larger
bulbous eyes than the females.
The larvae feed on decaying organic matter and
on the roots of grasses.
Length 8 - 10 mm. April, May
Geman: Märzfliege, Märzhaarmücke, Markusfliege
oder Markushaarmücke French: Mouche de la Saint-Marc
A much smaller bibio. About 5
mm. These gnats are difficult to determine.
The larvae Bibionidae (Bibio or
Dilophus: detail of anal opening is necessary to know
the species.) The larvae resemble leatherjackets with a black head. These
larvae I found in October 2008. Very late in the year for these species.
Familie: Soldier flies (Stratiomyidae)
Familie: Soldier flies (Stratiomyidae)
There are 45 species in the Netherlands. The
flies have a preference for flowers of the family Apiaceae.
Characteristic: Wings with a small round discal
cell.
But that is not to see this picture.
Broad Centurion, Green Soldier Fly (Chloromyia formosa)
Family: Soldierflies (Stratiomyidae)
This is a male. Not only because the eyes, but
also because the shiny yellow gold abdomen. Females have a metallic
bluegreen abdomen. The legs are black with yellow knees.
It's a beautiful fly.
Length 7-9 mm, April-August.
The larvae live in damp soil, compost and leaf litter and they feed on
decaying vegetable matter.
This is a male. A male has an orange spot on its
abdomen.
The abdomen of the females are entirely greenis brown.
Length to 16 mm.
The larvae live in manure.
In September I oft have these beautiful flies in the garden.
German: Dungwaffenfliege
Beris chalybata subfamily
Beris
Dark green. The adomen is black.
I have photgaphed this Beris chalybata on
April 30
This fly was about 10 mm
Bee flies (Bombyliidae)
Bee Flies have pubescent (hairy) bodies like bumble bees.
Anthrax anthrax Genus Anthrax.
Familiy Bee flies (Bombyliidae).
The wings are mostly black. It flutters, when it flies.
The larvae of Antrax anthrax are nest parasites of solitary bees.
Thick-headed flies, Conopid flies (Conopidae)
Thick-headed flies, Conopid flies (Conopidae)
Thick-headed flies have long antennae, a long snout and a curved body.
Conopid flies deposit eggs on the abdomen especially of wasps, bees and bumblebees. This happens in flight. The larvae are
internal parasites or endoparasites. The larvae develops inside the abdomen.
The development is completed within 10 - 12 days, when the host is killed.
Thick-headed flies because of the thick (inflated) head
Conops
quadrifasciatus Family Thick-headed flies,
Conopid flies(Conopidae)
There are some similar species. Conops
quadrifasciatus has orange, yellow legs.
Their larvae are endoparasites of bumble bees of the genus Bombus.
Length: 9 - 16 mm
German: Vierstreifige
Dickkopffliege
Sicus ferrugineus
A reddish brown Conopid fly.
The larvae are endoparasites of bumblebeesof the genus
Bombus.
May - September
Europe.
Photo 27-6-2010
German: Gemeine Breitstirnblasenkopfliege
Physocephala rufipes Familie Blaaskopvliegen - wespvliegen
(Conopidae)
Physocephala rufipes has a small, long second
segment. The other segments are broader and shorter.
Under the antennae is a black stripe.
Other species in the Nettherlands are:
Physocephala nigra (rare), Physocephala chrysorhhoea, Physocephala vittata.
The larvae are endoparasites of Sphecidae, bees,
bumble bees and social wasps.
Length: 9 - 13 mm.
Family: Tachinidae
Tachina
fera Family: Tachinidae
This fliy was very striking that day between the
hoverflies.
It is very easy to recognize by the red back with the black stripe in the
middle and the stiff hairs.
The larva of the Tachina
fera feed on caterpillars. The eggs are laid on the leaves. The
larvae move towards their host and get into their body. After about
two weeks, it changes into a fly.
Larvae of other Tachina species parasites on larvae of other insects.
Length: 9 - 16 mm
German: Igelfliege
Ernestia rudis
Another relative of theTachina
fera If you compare them, you see they are family.
Siphona spec.
This fly belongs also to the family Tachinidae. but is much smaller. About 5 mm.
Spec. because I can't know exactly which species it is.
You can recognize Siphona to its long snout. If you look closely, you
can see it on the photo on the bottom
It also has the stiff
hairs like the Tachinidae. The antennae are smaller.
In the Netherlands there are 7 species.
The larvae are parasitoids of woodlice.
Parasitoids like tthe larvae of the Tachinidae.
The first two flies are males. Tthe third fly is a
female. The last fly a female. They are slightly sexual dimorph.
Two other photos:
Rhinophora lepida Family Rhinophoridae
I see these flies in June and
July on many flowers in the garden. More
information
about Rhinophoridae
Paykullia maculata
Familie
Pissebedvliegen (Rhinophoridae)
This fly walked with waving wings on my
greenhouse.
The wings are partly dark. (shading along the wing veins) Small. (the
squares are 2 mm.)
Family Scathophaga
Scathophaga spec
First I thought it was a dung fly (Scathophaga
stercoraria), which does pass its larval stage in animal dung. But the antennas of a dung flyhave
a dark colour.
The Scathophaga furcata have a light coloured antenna, butspecies like Scathophaga lutaria and for example S. Suilla. have
also light antennas.
Dungfly (Scathophaga stercoraria)
Photos of the Dungfly. March, April
2009. Of course you see
them much more often in the meadow. They catch other flies, but sometimes
they feed on nectar.
On this photos with many pollen. Flower: Pilewort
(Ficaria verna)
Scathophaga stercoraria German:
Gelbe Dungfliege, Gemeine Kotfliege French: scatophage du fumier, mouche
à merde
Family Sciomyzidae
A slug-killing fly
Family Sciomyzidae
Maybe Tetanocera elata
It has got this name because the larvae
parasite on slugs.
They look similar on the
family Scathophaga
Family Heleomyzidae
Suillia spec. Family
Heleomyzidae
This fly resembles the flies above. Notable are the
‘spines’ on the wing edge.
Suillia species are oft in the neighbourhood of mushrooms. Therefore you
can find them mainly in autumn.
Many larvae of these species are also found in mushrooms.
FamilyBlow-fly
(Calliphoridae)
Greenbottle
Family Blow-fly
(Calliphoridae)
The
name blow-fly comes from an older English term for meat that had eggs laid
on it. Flies in this family are often metallic in appearance.
Maybe
Greenbottle(Lucilia
caesar) Greenbottles are found everywhere. On carrion, dung, but also on
flowers. The
larvae feed on carrion and adults visit flowers for nectar. It
has a beautiful metallic bluish green colour.This is the most widespread
and common species. As always there are similar species.
German:
Goldfliege
Melinda spec. In the Netherlands there are
two species Melinda gentilis and Melinda viridicyanea.
A much smaller member of the family.
Blue bottle fly (Calliphora vicina) Family Calliphoridae
Cluster
flies (Pollenia) Family Blow-fly (Calliphoridae)
Roberflies Robber
flies are
flies, which catch other flies in the same way as dragonflies with
their forelegs. The
short, strong proboscis is used to stab and inject victims with saliva
containing neurotoxic and proteolytic enzymes. The fly then sucks the
liquefied meal through the proboscis. All
robber flies have stout, spiny legs.
They aid in pray capture.
Larvae live in the soil and decaying wood. They also feed on other insects.
Common
Awl Robberfly (Neoitamus
cyanurus)
This is most common species.
It often occurs in the neighbourhood of oaks. It is already bee found
early in spring.
May - September
Length: 20 - 25 mm
Photo left: female
Neoitamus cyanurus male
German: Gemeine Strauchdieb
with prey
Dioctria hyalipennis
A Small robberfly. forests and shrubs Characterization: The middle of and forefeet are red, a continuous silver line on the
side of the brisket.
Dance Flies, Balloon Flies, Dagger Flies or Empids
Empis tesselata Family Empididae
Dance flies are predatory flies. On the photo you can see the long snout.
Dance fly, because the males dance for the females. They also offer the
females a prey. There are many small species.
Empis tesselata: You can see them also on flowers.
Length 9 - 11 mm. May - August
Europe, North Africa, Asia
German: Gewürfelte Tanzfliege
Stiletto flies (Therevidae)
Common
stiletto fly (Thereva nobilitata) Family Therevidae
From this family, there are many small species. The Common
stiletto fly is larger. But there there are similar species. It is not
quite sure.
The English name refers to the narrow, tapering abdomens. The dense short
golden hair looks like felt. (Dutch name translated: felt fly) Between the
eyes of the female are two dark spots.
Length 10 - 13 mm.
May - September
The larvae often live in sandy soil with leaf-litter. The predaceous
larvae eat especially beetles larvae. But I also have read they are
omnivorous. So I am not sure.
The male. Photo 19-6-2010.
Rhagio lineola. Family Therevidae
A much smaller member of the family. About 8 mm.
Photo 10-7-2010.
Small flies
Dolichopodidae spec family
long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae)
I don't know wich species they are. (Most likely two different species.)
These are small flies.There are also larger flies (1 cm) in the family.
Characteristic is the Arista upright on the end of the antenna is. (shown
on the top photo) The eyes are shiny. These flies had green eyes.
Both the fly and larvae are mainly predators. (invertebrates, larvae)
Especially in a humid environment.
Lauxaniidae
It's a large family.
I don't know wihich species.
Lauxaniidae, Minettia longipennis In May I see many Minettias in the
garden. A dark fly with very light wings.
Grassfly spec.
(Chlorops spec.) Family Grassflies (Chloropidae)
The
small flies in this family are very similar. (Therefore spec.) Flies are yellow with black stripes.
These photos were taken in April. In April there are many grassflies in the garden.
They are slowly flying above the plants.
The larvae of the grass fly live in grass stems.
Length: 2, 3 mm.
Callomyia cf. amoena.
(not
entirely sure) Family flat-footed flies (Platypezidae)
A little black fly with large bright eyes.
Many family members of this family have beautiful colors.
Small dung fly
Family Sphaeroceridae. As the name suggests, you'll find it on manure hope and
droppings. You recognize it on the thick thighs. More
information
In Februari 2009 I saw some dung flies between
the fallen leaves.You can see the thick thigs. They move by little jumps.
Lonchoptera spec. Family spear-winged
flies (Lonchopteridae).
.
Lance flies, Lonchaeidae
Niet op soort te determineren
Small but robustly built dark flies This fly has a beautiful shiny
metallic body.
Larvae: Usually mold, under the bark of dead
trees. But some species feed on other plant material or even bait.
Black scavenger flies
or ensign flies (Sepsidae)
Black scavenger flies
or ensign flies (Sepsidae)
The larvae develop on dung or decaying plant and animal material. A
beautiful shining black fly with a body shaped like an ant's. Lesser
dung fly (Sepsis fulgens) is is the most common species. It has a
wing-waving habit. On the wing a dark spot.
German: Schwingfliegen
Themira spec. Larger species without the dark
spot on the wings..
Sepsis punctum. Als larger. Striking red.
Ulidiidae
Seioptera
vibransFamiliePrachtvliegen
(Ulidiidae)
A shiny dark fly with a prominent spot on the wings. He looks like a Lesser
dung fly.
As a lesser
dung fly
you can find the larvae in manure and decaying material..
Length 5 to 6 mm.
May-September
Pallopteridae
Palloptera
umbellatarumFamily
Pallopteridae
A characteristic of many flies in this family is the silvery-gray or white spot on the head.
Many species have spotted wings. They often live in shady places.
This fly was found was in the scullery. It stayed on the paper when I took
it outside.
Length about 4 mm.
Europe
Photo 10-7-2010.
When it is not to cold, you can find (in the Netherlands) flies in December.
Common flies in summer, are special now.
Tephrochlamys rufiventris
Family Heleomyzidae.
The larva can be found in waste, manure hope. That's why you find the fly
oft in the neighbourhood of farms. There are even a few species of this
family in the pool area. I have photographed this one December 25. This
fly must be able to handle the cold. There are flies similar to
Tephrochlamys rufiventris. But they are not so late in the year.
Phaonia tuguriorum Family House
flies (Muscidae)
This is a big family.
The most lick on liquids. The larvae feed on decaying material.
It flies from February to December. This
Phaonia was accompanied by an other member of the family (Phaonia subventa)
on December 22 in the sun on the wall.
Phaonia subventa Family
House flies(Muscidae)
On the orange abdomen is a black mark. You can find it from March until it
is freezing. (Photo December 22)
The fly on the first photograph is blowing bubbles. It is often to be seen.
Why they do it, is not entirely sure. A theory is: It is as an aid
to digestion.
An other member of the family House flies (Muscidae)
Eudasyphora
cyanella Family House
flies (Muscidae)
It is a shiny green fly like the Greenbottle.
It also has black bristle-like hair on the thorax. But in the center are
some hairs missing. That 's a difference.
Flesh flies,Sarcophaga
Family Flesh flies, Sarcophagidae
Sarcophaga carnaria
is the most common species, but there are more similar species.
Characteristics: Stripes de thorax, red eyes and
a checkerboard like pattern on the abdomenen.
The flies feed on nectar and pollen.
The larvae are parasites. Furthermore, I 've
found different descriptions in books and sites. There are written about
food sources such as earthworms, insect larvae, pupae, but also dead
animals.
German: Fleischfliegen
A young Flesh
flies, Sarcophaga. The wings are not ready. That will take a while. (Two
hours is possible) Meanwhile it walks on the leave.
On the head it has a kind of hatchet. It
uses it in the egg to get out. Then it disappears.
Metopia spec. Family
Metopia is a subfamily of the family Sarcophagidae.
There are different species.
It is a small mobile fly. In the sun, its face
looks like a light. That is characteristic to all family members. The
bottom picture is vague. But you can see the light face.
There
are many species in our garden.
Characteristic: Small slender flies. Different colours. From yellow to
black.
Usually they are not to determine from a photo.
They feed on nectar and pollen but there are also predaceous species on
small flies.
When you want to see more species,you can look here.
The larvae are feeding on plants or decaying organic
matter. Sometimes they are miners.
German: Blumenfliegen
Different species Root-Maggot
Flies (Anthomyiidae)
I want to thank everyone, who has helped me (waarneming.nl)
to identify. In particular, Joke van Erkelens, Robert Heemskerk, Mark van Veen,
Gerard Pennard and Han Endt. With the determination of Tachinidae I have had
much help from Theo Zeegers. (On diptera)