Flies, gnats

flies, gnats

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Subpage flies: Tachinidae Blow-flies (Calliphoridae) House flies (Muscidae) Soldierflies (Stratiomyidae) Root-Maggot Flies (Anthomyiidae) Small flies Small flies Gnats

Nederlands / Dutch
Flies, gnats

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 or eat 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 pest because the damage to lawns.

Crane fly (Ctenophora pectinicornis)

Crane fly (Nephrotoma flavipalpis) The wings are folded.

More information about gnats (Nematocera) you can find on Subpage gnats

Flies:
Of some families I have many species. Those families, I've put on a subpage. Of each family is an example on this page. Below is a link to the subpage.
I also created a subpage with families, which consist mainly of small flies. Hover flies are on two separate pages.

Pegomya winthemi. Familie Bloemenvliegen (Anthomyiidae)

Root-Maggot Fly spec.
Family Root-Maggot Flies (Anthomyiidae) Greek: anthos = flower en myia = fly

Greenbottle Family Blow-flies (Calliphoridae)

Greenbottle, Lucilia spec Maybe (Lucilia caesar)
Family Blow-fl (Calliphoridae)

Subpage: Root-Maggot Flies (Anthomyiidae)

Subpage Blow-flies (Calliphoridae)

Eudasyphora cyanella Genus Eudasyphora. Family House flies (Muscidae).

Eudasyphora cyanella
Family House flies (Muscidae)

Broad Centurion, Green Soldier Fly (Chloromyia formosa)
Family: Soldierflies (Stratiomyidae)

Subpage House flies (Muscidae)

Subpage Soldierflies (Stratiomyidae)

Tachina fera Subfamily Tachininae. Tribe Tachinini Family: Tachinidae

Tachina fera / Tachina magnicornis
Family: Tachinidae Larvae of Tachina species parasites on larvae of other insects.

Black scavenger flies or ensign flies (Sepsidae)
All families, mainly of very small flies are available on a separate page.

Subpage Tachinidae

Subpage Families Very small flies

Other families of flies. They are arranged alphabetically. I have used the scientific (Latin) name.

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.

Length 12 -14 mm.

Other resembling species: Dioctria rufipes, Dioctria linearis.

Bee flies (Bombyliidae)
Bee Flies have pubescent (hairy) bodies like bumble bees.

Anthrax anthrax Genus Anthrax. Familiy Bee flies (Bombyliidae).

It's a black fly. The wings are black. Only the edges of the wings are partially transparent. On the black abdomen are white hairs.
The larvae live in nests of mason bees. At the entrance of the nest the female lays the eggs. The larvae eat the pollen and nectar supply. The eggs and larvae of the bees are also eaten by the larvae of the Anthrax anthrax.
I don't see many flies. Yet a few times a year.

Length: 7 - 13 mm.

Photo 30-5-2009 Photo 22-5-2011

Thick-headed flies, Conopid flies (Conopidae)
Thick-headed flies have long antennae, a long snout and a curved body. Thick-headed flies because of the thick (inflated) head
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.

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

Physocephala rufipes Family Thick-headed flies, Conopid flies (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.

Leopoldius maybe Leopoldius signatus. Rare in the Netherlands!! Family Thick-headed flies, Conopid flies (Conopidae)

There are more species in the Netherlands. Namely L. brevirostris, L. coronatus, L. valvatus. They are all very rare.
At the moment I took this picture, it was gloomy weather. After the photo the fly was disappeared. To be able to identify this fly I needed a photo of the front.

Photo 20-9-2011

Sicus ferrugineus Family Thick-headed flies, Conopid flies (Conopidae)

A reddish brown Conopid fly.
The larvae are endoparasites of bumblebeesof the genus Bombus.

May - September
Europe.

Photo 27-6-2010

German: Gemeine Breitstirnblasenkopfliege

Myopa Family Thick-headed flies, Conopid flies (Conopidae)

The different species Myopa are very similar.
Of the Mytopa species in the spring only M. buccata and M. testacea are to identify from photos. M. tesselatipennis is the commonest in the Netherlands. (Thanks Han)

Striking is the large, white face (below the eyes). On these photos they are sitting in a flowering pear tree, that is often visited by the hosts of their larvae. (bees, wasps, bumblebees)

Another Myopa in the pear tree. Photos 14-4-2011

Long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae)
The flies are slender with long slender legs. The colour varies, but they usually have a shiny metallic color. The size of flies in this family is from 1 mm to 9 mm. The arista is upright on the end of the antenna. Both the fly and larvae are mainly predators. (invertebrates, larvae) Especially in a humid environment.

Dolichopus specFamily long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae)

I don't know the species.
The fly is beautifully shiny metallic green. The eyes are shiny too. The legs are long and slender.

Photos 14-5-2011 en 24-4-2011

Dolichopodidae Sciapus Family long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae)

Dolichopus ungulatus. Family long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae)

Dolichopodidae Sciapus Family long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae)
John Carr: A species of Sciapus, the only genus of Dolichopodidae in your area with forked M vein.
Niels-Jan: Probably it will be S. platypterus, but a female is not possible from a photograph. Males have white on the middle tarsi.
Photos 2-6-2011. Small, against the wall.

Dolichopus ungulatus. Family long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae)
Gedetermineerd door Igor Grichanov.
Determined by Igor Grichanov.
A larger species, which I found on the window frame in the pantry. Metallic green with light legs.
Photos 30-5-2011.

Dance Flies, Balloon Flies, Dagger Flies or Empids
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 Family Empididae

You can see them also on flowers.
Length 9 - 11 mm. May - August
Europe, North Africa, Asia

German: Gewürfelte Tanzfliege

Empis livida Family Empididae

A male. The legs are brown. Length 7 - 10 mm. April - July. Photo 19-6-2011

Hilara spec. Family Empididae

This is a much smaller species. About 3 - 4 mm. The males have swollen tarsi, which contains silk glands. These silk glands is used to wrap up prey during courtship. Photo 14-5-2010

Fanniidae
Family: Small flies. Mostly grey - black. The larvae live in decaying organic matter.

Fannia lustrator Family Fanniidae

Photos 17-4-2009 Characteristic to the Fannia lustrator are the orange legs.

Fannia mollissima Family Fanniidae

Photos 6-5-2010. A small, dark fly. About 5 mm.

Heleomyzidae
The larvae often live in decaying organic material, fungi (genus Suillia)

Suillia spec. Family Heleomyzidae
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.

Suillia variegata Family Heleomyzidae

Suillia affinis resembles this fly. The wings of Suillia variegata have darker patches. There's a small pale area on the tip after a darker patch. Photos 17-10-2011

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 species December 25. This fly must be able to handle the cold. There are flies similar to Tephrochlamys rufiventris. But they are not so late or early in the year.

Megamerinidae

Megamerina dolium Family Megamerinidae

Megamerina dolium is Europe's only species of the family. They are slim, dark and shiny. The legs are orange. I thought at first that it was a wasp when I saw it in the garden.
Size 6 - 9 mm.
The larvae are predators. They live under the bark of dead trees

Big-Headed Flies (Pipunculidae)
There are both small and large flies in this family. 3.5-11.5mm. Usually they are hairless dark flies with very large eyes. The larvae are parasites of cicadas. The cicadas don't survive, because it is finally completely eaten. Then the larvae pupate in the soil. They are related to hover flies.

Big-Headed Fly Family Big-Headed Flies (Pipunculidae)

The species can not be determined from this photos.
This is a small fly. About 4 mm.

Photo 17-6-2011.

Psilidae

Carrot fly. Psila merdaria or Psila fimetaria. The difference is not visible on these photos. Family Psilidae

A striking orange fly. It has few brushes and clear wings. The length of this fly was about one cm.

The larvae of the carrot flies are fytofaag (plant eating). They live in the roots, bulbs and non-woody stems.

Snipe flies (Rhagionidae)
Snipe flies are small- or large-sized flies. They have slender bodies, long legs and long wings.

Small Fleck-winged Snipe Fly, Rhagio lineola. Family snipe flies (Rhagionidae).

Chrysopilus cristatus. Family snipe flies (Rhagionidae).

Small Fleck-winged Snipe Fly, Rhagio lineola. Family snipe flies (Rhagionidae).

About 8 mm. Photo 10-7-2010.

Chrysopilus cristatus. Family snipe flies (Rhagionidae).
This is a picture of a female. The abdomen is gold coloured. The thorax shows two gray stripes. The male is slimmer and darker.
Length 6 - 8 mm. Europe. Photo 6-6-2011.

Rhagio tringarius Family snipe flies (Rhagionidae) female

A larger yellow-brown fly. Approximately 8 to 14 mm. The thorax is slightly darker yellow with brown stripes in length. On the abdomen are dark spots. The male is slimmer, the tip of the abdomen of the male is dark.
The larvae feed on larvae of other species and live in the damp soil. The adult fly seems to catch other flies.

June - September.
Europe

Photos 19-8-2011

Pissebedvliegen (Rhinophoridae)
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 the larvae of the Tachinidae.

Phyto melanocephala Family Rhinophoridae

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

A small, shiny dark fly. I see these flies in June and July on many flowers in the garden.
More information about Rhinophoridae

In the first two pictures it is on Yarrow.

Photos 12-6-2011 en 5-7-2008

Melanophora roralis Family Rhinophoridae

He has dark wings with clear veins. The females have white wing tips.
The fly in the photo is about 5 mm

Foto 17-6-2011

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.)

Dung-flies, Scathophagidae
The size varies. 3 to 12 mm. The body and legs often have many brushes and hairs. The larvae live in rotting organic wastes such as manure. But there are also larvae, which are miners.

Scathophaga spec. Family Dungflies (Scathophagidae)

Scathophaga with light coloured antennas are difficult to determine.
The Scathophaga furcata have a light coloured antenna, but species like Scathophaga lutaria and for example S. Suilla. have also light antennas.
They catch other flies... often on mammal faeces.

Other Scathophaga: Photos 16-10-2011

Dungfly (Scathophaga stercoraria) Family Dungflies (Scathophagidae)

The antennas of a dung fly have a dark colour.
Jürgen Peters: Das mit den dunklen Fühlern = S. stercoraria gilt übrigens nur für Mitteleuropa. Im Norden (Norwegen, Schottland, Shetland Inseln usw.) gibt es noch S. calida, in Rußland etc. z.B. S. cordylurina. Die haben auch dunkle Antennen, sind aber auch ansonsten grauer. In these area it is more difficult to determine a Scathophaga stercoraria.

Photos of the Dungfly. March, April 2009.

They catch other flies, but sometimes they feed on nectar. On this photos with many pollen. Flower: Pilewort (Ficaria verna)
The females are less hairy and they're grayer.
German: Gelbe Dungfliege, Gemeine Kotfliege French: scatophage du fumier, mouche à merde.

Daffodil fly (Norellia spinipes) Family Scathophaga

The spines on the thigh are characteristic. (spinipes: thorny legged)
The female put the eggs on the leaves of the daffodil. (down near the bottom) The larva eats mainly in the part under the soil (leafminer). Therefore the outer leaves die off. The bulbs have no damage. They are often less large.

Photo: 4-4-2011

Sarcophagidae
Small to very large flies. 3 -22 mm. Characteristics: Stripes de thorax, red eyes and a checkerboard like pattern on the abdomen. Because of their brushes they look like tachinidae. 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.

Flesh flies, Sarcophaga Family Flesh flies, Sarcophagidae

Sarcophaga carnaria is the most common species, but there are more similar species.

The flies feed on nectar and pollen.

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. Genus Metopia is a subfamily Miltogramminae of the family Sarcophagidae.

There are different species. On the forum "waarneming.nl" are 7 species for the Netherlands. (M. argentata, M. argyrocephala, M. campestris, M. grandii, M. italiana, M. staegerii, M. tshernovae) The differences are unfortunately very small.
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.
The larvae of the flies in the subfamily Miltogramminae are parasites of the food of various species of bees and wasps.

Photos 20-4-2009. Photo 14-5-2011 Two years later, the same place. This could be the same species.

Photos 25-4-2011. An other Metopia spec. Browner. Only the lower part of the head is white.

Sciomyzidae
It has got this name snail-killer because the larvae parasite on snails and slugs.

Marsh fly, snail-killer Family Sciomyzidae
Maybe Tetanocera elata

They sometimes look similar on the flies of the family Scathophaga

Stiletto flies (Therevidae)
They are mostly hairy flies. 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.

Common stiletto fly (Thereva nobilitata) female

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 male. Photo 19-6-2010.

Peacock flies, Fruit flies (Tephritidae)
Flies of another family Drosophilidae are also called "fruit fly". Tephritidae have beautiful drawn wings. The females lay eggs in plants using their "drill". A site with more species of Tephritidae: Tephritidae.

Anomoia purmunda Family Peacock flies, fruit flies (Tephritidae)
The base of the wing is dark. In the upper part you can see dark lines.
Females drill holes in the fruit of the hawthorn and other members of the rose family, which they lay their eggs.
Length 4 - 5 mm.
April - September

Photo 12-8-2010

The wing is a bit damaged, so the black line does not run to the end of the wing. You see them vague in photographs, because they mostly walk around with trembling wings.
German: Weißdorn-Bohrfliege

Ulidiidae

Seioptera vibrans Family Ulidiidae

A shiny dark fly with a prominent spot on the wings. He looks like a Lesser dung fly.
As a l you can find the larvae in manure and decaying material.

Length 5 to 6 mm.
May-September

Pallopteridae

Palloptera umbellatarum Family 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 perforated paper when I took it outside.

Length about 4 mm.
Europe

Photo 10-7-2010.

A site that explains the construction of a fly: ento.csiro.au/biology/fly/ (click on atlas)

A beautiful site with much information: The Garden Safari
Vliegen en Muggen van J.A. van Erkelens A site about flies with many beautiful photos of Joke van Erkelens.
Informatie about flies: http://www.diptera.info/news.php
Informatie about wasps and bees: http://www.forum.hymis.de

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 and Chris Raper. (On diptera)

Nederlands / Dutch

garden	summer	weeds	winter	animals/links	beetles	wasps/bees	France	Scotland	England2
spring	summerflowers	houseplants	dune	butterflies	bugs	hoverflies/1	Ireland	Czechia	Spain
spring'07	autumn	euphorbia	spiders	damsel/dragonflies	flies	hoverflies/2		England	links

Subpage flies: Tachinidae   Blow-flies (Calliphoridae)   House flies (Muscidae) Soldierflies (Stratiomyidae) Root-Maggot Flies (Anthomyiidae)   Small flies Gnats
Subpage wasps, bees, bumblebees: Parasitica, Ichneumonidae   Sawflies symphyta    Bumblebees
Subpage France:    Insects France

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