Minnesota Flies
Order Diptera |
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Diptera (flies) is the order of insects that is characterized as having a single pair of functional wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres, reduced, knob-like structures derived from the hind wings, on the metathorax. The order includes true flies, mosquitos, gnats, and midges. There are more than 150,000 described, still living species worldwide, though there are thought to be about 1,000,000 species. There are about 17,000 species in North America north of Mexico, and at least 367 species in Minnesota. |
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Recent Additions |
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Ferruginous tiger crane fly |
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With over 15,000 described species, the family Tipulidae (crane flies) is one of the largest families of true flies (Diptera). More than 1,600 species occur in North America. The subfamily Tipulinae (large crane flies) contains the largest of the crane flies. In North America, the vast majority of species are in the genera Tipula and Nephrotoma. The genus Nephrotoma (tiger crane flies) contains about 150 described species. The most common of these is ferruginous tiger crane fly (Nephrotoma ferruginea). “Ferruginous” means reddish-brown or rust colored, but ferruginous tiger crane fly is more often described as orange in color. It is distinguished from other crane flies by the body color, the antennae that are entirely black except for the first two segments, and by a black spot at each end of a groove across the thorax. |
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| Photo by Alfredo Colon | ||||
Band-winged crane fly |
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Band-winged crane fly (Epiphragma fasciapenne) is a common, easily identified, moderate-sized crane fly. It occurs in the eastern United States and adjacent Canadian provinces east of the Great Plains. Eastern Minnesota is at the western edge of its range. It is found in floodplain woodlands and wooded areas adjacent to swamps. Like all crane flies, the body is long and slim, the wings are long and narrow, and the legs are very long, very thin, and very fragile. The thorax has a distinct, V-shaped groove on top. The lower jaws each have a very long, antenna-like extension. Band-winged crane fly is distinguished by the distinctive wing pattern with four bands of bordered brown spots, and by a dark brown band at the very tip of the third leg segment. |
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| Photo by Alfredo Colon | ||||
Lesser bulb fly (Eumerus spp.) |
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Eumerus is a genus of small hoverflies in the family Syrphidae. With 281 known species, it is one of the largest genera of flies. It is found throughout the Palearctic realm, which includes Europe, Asia north of the Himalayas, North Africa, and the northern and central parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Several Eumerus species have been introduced into North and South America. Three of these are known to occur in the United States: lesser bulb fly (Eumerus funeralis), narcissus bulb fly (Eumerus narcissi), and onion bulb fly (Eumerus strigatus). Collectively, they are known as lesser bulb flies. Adult lesser bulb flies are black tinged with bronze. They have pale longitudinal stripes on the thorax and silvery-white stripes on the abdomen. The larvae are considered pests. They tunnel into plant bulbs, causing the bulbs to rot. The bulb either dies or produces stunted growth in the following growing season. In some areas, up to 25% of narcissus bulbs are infected. |
_01it.jpg "Lesser bulb fly (Eumerus spp.)") |
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| Photo by Alfredo Colon | ||||
Long-tailed dance fly |
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Long-tailed dance fly (Rhamphomyia longicauda) is a small, black, long-legged fly. It is commonly found from May to July in deciduous woods near water. The wings are long and black. The head is round with large bright orange or red eyes. On the female, the middle and hind legs have a fringe of long, black, bristly hairs. Every evening around sunset, males and females collect in same-sex swarms. Females and fly up and down, the behavior that gives this family its common name “dance-flies”. Females cannot hunt for prey. They receive protein from males as gifts in exchange for copulation. They swallow air, filling and extending their abdomen outward, saucer-like, falsely signaling males that their eggs are nearing maturity. The long hairy legs wrap around the abdomen, making it appear even larger. Males are attracted to females that have largest swollen abdomens and hairiest legs. An individual will break off and join the other swarm to select a mate. |
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| Photo by Alfredo Colon | ||||
Bee-mimic robber fly (Laphria sacrator) |
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With 7,003 species in 530 genera worldwide, robber flies are one of the largest and most abundant families of insects alive today. Bee-like robber flies, as the common name for the genus suggests, resemble bees. There are 240 species of bee-like robber flies, 62 species in North America north of Mexico. Few of the species have been given a common name. Bee-mimic robber fly (Laphria sacrator) is a short, robust, medium-sized, bee-like robber fly. It is fairly common in northeastern and north-central United States, including Minnesota. It has a stout thorax and a short abdomen, both partially covered with long yellow hairs making it resemble a bumble bee. It is one of the hairiest of the bee-like robber flies. Adults are ⅝″ to 1″ long. |
_01it.jpg "bee-mimic robber fly (Laphria sacrator)") |
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| Photo by Christa Rittberg | ||||
Other Recent Additions |
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small red midge (Microtendipes pedellus) oblique streaktail (Allograpta obliqua) bee-mimic robber flies (Laphria sericea complex) common crane fly (Tipula trivittata) common crane flies (Tipula subg. Pterelachisus) marsh fly (Tetanocera plebeja) |
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| Photo by Babette Kis | ||||
This list includes only flies that have been recorded in Minnesota, but not all of the flies found in Minnesota. |
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Acamptocladius dentolatens (non-biting midge) Acericecis ocellaris (ocellate gall midge) Aedes spp. (mosquitoes) Aedes triseriatus (eastern treehole mosquito) Aedes vexans (inland floodwater mosquito) Agathomyia spp. (flat-footed fly) Agromyza aristata (elm agromyzid leafminer) Agromyza vockerothi (leaf miner fly) Allograpta obliqua (oblique streaktail) Amphibolips spp. (oak apple gall wasps) Anastoechus barbatus (bearded bee fly) Angarotipula illustris (large crane fly) Anthomyiidae (root maggot flies) Archytas apicifer (tachinid fly) Atherix variegata (water snipe fly) Aulagromyza cornigera (leaf miner fly) Axarus festivus (non-biting midge) Bibio albipennis (white-winged march fly) Bibio femoratus (march fly) Bombylidae (bee flies) Brachyopa vacua (yellow-spotted sapeater) Brachypalpus oarus (eastern catkin fly) Callopistromyia annulipes (picture-winged fly) Callopistromyia strigula (picture-winged fly) Calycomyza flavinotum (leaf miner fly) Calycomyza humeralis (aster leafminer) Calycomyza malvae (mallow leaf miner) Calycomyza promissa (leaf miner fly) Calyptratae (calyptrate flies) Campiglossa albiceps (fruit fly) Cecidomyiidae (gall midges and wood midges) Cerotainia spp. (robber flies) Cerotainia albipilosa (robber fly) Cerotainia macrocera (robber fly) Chalcosyrphus chalybeus (violet leafwalker) Chalcosyrphus nemorum (dusky-banded leafwalker) Chalcosyrphus piger (short-haired leafwalker) Chalcosyrphus satanica (devil’s leafwalker) Chalcosyrphus vecors (orange-hipped leafwalker) Chironomini (non-biting midges) Chironomus atroviridis (non-biting midge) Chironomus plumosus (Winnebago lake fly) Chironomus riparius (non-biting midge) Chironomus spp. (non-biting midge) Chrysanthrax cypris (bee fly) Chrysopilus ornatus (ornate snipe fly) Chrysopilus quadratus (quadrate snipe fly) Chrysopilus thoracicus (golden-backed snipe fly) Chrysops mitis (benign deer fly) Chrysops spp. (deer fly) Chrysotoxum derivatum (narrow-banded meadow fly) Chrysotoxum fasciolatum (hoverfly) Chrysotoxum laterale (hoverfly) Chrysotoxum plumeum (broad-banded meadow fly) Chrysotoxum radiosum (punctate meadow fly) Cloeon dipterum (pond olive) Coenomyia ferruginea (stink fly) Coenosia tigrina (tiger fly) Compsilura concinnata (tachinid fly) Compsobata univitta (stilt-legged fly) Condylostylus caudatus (longlegged fly) Condylostylus longicornis (longlegged fly) Condylostylus patibulatus (longlegged fly) Condylostylus sipho group (longlegged fly) Contarinia verrucicola (linden wart gall midge) Coquillettidia perturbans (cattail mosquito) Cuterebra buccata (rabbit bot fly) Cuterebra emasculator (squirrel bot fly) Cuterebra grisea (rodent bot fly) Cuterebra spp. (rodent bot fly) Cuterebra sterilator (rodent bot fly) Cylindromyia spp. (tachinid flies) Cylindromyia argentia (tachinid fly) Cylindromyia bicolor (tachinid fly) Cylindromyia carolinae (tachinid fly) Cylindromyia euchenor (tachinid fly) Cylindromyia interrupta (tachinid fly) Dalmannia nigriceps (thick-headed fly) Dasineura investita (wood nettle gall midge) Delphinia picta (common picture-winged fly) Demeijerea brachialis (non-biting midge) Didea fuscipes (undivided lucent) Dioxyna picciola (fruit fly) Dioprosopa clavata (four-speckled hover fly) Diplocladius cultriger (non-biting midge) Dolichopus spp. (longlegged fly) Drosophila suzukii (spotted-wing drosophila) Egle atomaria (willow catkin fly) Egle longipalpis (willow catkin fly) Egle spp. (willow catkin flies) Epalpus signifer (early tachinid fly) Epiphragma fasciapenne (band-winged crane fly) Epistrophella emarginata (slender smoothtail) Eristalis anthophorina (orange-spotted drone fly) Eristalis arbustorum (European drone fly) Eristalis brousii (hourglass drone fly) Eristalis dimidiata (black-shouldered drone fly) Eristalis flavipes (orange-legged drone fly) Eristalis interrupta (orange-spined drone fly) Eristalis obscura (dusky drone dly) Eristalis stipator (yellow-shouldered drone fly) Eristalis tenax (common drone fly) Eristalis transversa (transverse flower fly) Euaresta aequalis (burr-seed fly) Euaresta bella (common ragweed fruit fly) Euaresta festiva (giant ragweed fruit fly) Euhexomyza schineri (poplar twiggall fly) Eumerus funeralis (lesser bulb fly) Eumerus spp. (lesser bulb flies) Eumerus strigatus (onion bulb fly) Eupeodes americanus (American hover fly) Eupeodes americanus complex (aphideaters) Eupeodes latifasciatus (variable aphideater) Eupeodes neoperplexus (spot-headed aphideater) Eupeodes perplexus (bare-winged aphideater) Eupeodes pomus (short-tailed aphideater) Eupeodes Subgenus Metasyrphus (aphideaters) Eupeodes volucris (bird hover fly) Eurimyia stipata (long-nosed swamp fly) Eurosta solidaginis (goldenrod gall fly) Eutreta noveboracensis (fruit fly) Fannia canicularis (lesser house fly) Gymnocarena diffusa (sunflower receptacle maggot) Gymnoclytia immaculata (tachinid fly) Gymnoclytia occidua (tachinid fly) Harmandiola cavernosa (gall midge) Hedriodiscus binotatus (green soldier fly) Helius flavipes (limoniid crane fly) Helophilus fasciatus (narrow-headed marsh fly) Helophilus hybridus (woolly-tailed marsh fly) Helophilus latifrons (broad-headed marsh fly) Holcocephala abdominalis (gnat ogre) Holcocephala calva (gnat ogre) Holcocephala fusca (gnat ogre) Holcocephala spp. (gnat ogres) Hydrophoria lancifer (root maggot fly) Hypocritanus fascipennis (eastern band-winged hover fly) Hyporhygma quadripunctatus (non-biting midge) Idana marginata (picture-winged fly) Japanagromyza viridula (oak shothole leafminer) Kribiodorum perpulchrum (non-biting midge) Laphria canis complex (bee-mimic robber flies) Laphria cinerea (bee-mimic robber fly) Laphria divisor (bee-mimic robber fly) Laphria flavicollis (bee-mimic robber fly) Laphria huron (bee-mimic robber fly) Laphria index (bee-mimic robber fly) Laphria index complex (bee-mimic robber flies) Laphria insignis (bee-mimic robber fly) Laphria ithypyga (bee-mimic robber fly) Laphria janus (bee-mimic robber fly) Laphria posticata (bee-mimic robber fly) Laphria sacrator (bee-mimic robber fly) Laphria sericea complex (bee-mimic robber flies) Laphria spp. (bee-mimic robber flies) Laphria thoracica (bee-mimic robber fly) Lauterborniella agrayloides (non-biting midge) Lejops bilinearis (two-lined swamp fly) Lepidophora lepidocera (scaly bee fly) Lepidophora lutea (hunchback bee fly) Limonia annulata (limoniid crane fly) Liriomyza arctii (burdock leaf miner) Liriomyza asclepiadis (milkweed leaf miner fly) Liriomyza brassicae (cabbage leafminer) Liriomyza eupatoriella (white snakeroot leaf miner) Liriomyza eupatorii (leaf miner fly) Liriomyza spp. (leaf miner flies) Lucilia coeruleiviridis (blue-green bottle fly) Lucilia sericata (common green bottle fly) Lucilia silvarum (marsh greenbottle fly) Mallota bautias (bare-eyed mimic) Mallota illinoensis (midwestern mimic) Mallota posticata (hairy-eyed mimic) Merodon equestris (narcissus bulb fly) Microtendipes pedellus (small red midge) Milesia virginiensis (yellowjacket hover fly) Musca autumnalis (face fly) Musca domestica (house fly) Myolepta strigilata (scaled pegleg) Myopa clausa (thick-headed fly) Myopa vicaria (thick-headed fly) Nemorimyza posticata (leaf miner fly) Nemotelus kansensis (soldier fly) Neoascia spp. (fen flies) Neotephritis finalis (sunflower seed maggot) Nephrotoma ferruginea (ferruginous tiger crane fly) Ophiomyia kwansonis (daylily leafminer) Ophiomyia maura (leaf miner fly) Orthonevra nitida (wavy mucksucker) Orthonevra pictipennis (dusky-veined mucksucker) Orthonevra pulchella (dusky mucksucker) Parhelophilus brooksi (Brooks’ bog fly) Parhelophilus flavifacies (black-legged bog fly) Parhelophilus laetus (common bog fly) Parhelophilus obsoletus (unadorned bog fly) Parhelophilus rex (dusky bog fly) Pelecinobaccha costata (cobalt hover fly) Physocephala furcillata (thick-headed fly) Physocephala marginata (thick-headed fly) Physocephala sagittaria (thick-headed fly) Physocephala texana (thick-headed fly) Physocephala tibialis (common eastern physocephala) Physoconops brachyrhynchus (thick-headed fly) Physoconops obscuripennis (thick-headed fly) Phytoliriomyza melampyga (jewelweed leaf-miner fly) Phytomyza agromyzina (leaf miner fly) Phytomyza aralivora (leaf miner fly) Pilodiplosis helianthibulla (sunflower bullet gall midge) Pipiza atrata (ebony pithead) Pipiza femoralis (white-haired pithead) Pipiza puella (sumac gall pithead) Platypalpus spp. (hybotid dance fly) Platypalpus trivialis hybotid dance fly) Platypeza spp. (flat-footed flies) Platystoma seminationis (dancing kiss fly) Platytipula ultima (large crane fly) Pollenia rudis (common cluster fly) Polydontomyia curvipes (dimorphic sickleleg) Polystepha globosa (blackjack oak leaf gall midge) Polystepha pilulae (oak leaf gall midge) Procecidochares atra (goldenrod brussels sprout gall fly) Proctacanthella cacopiliga (brown robber fly) Proctacanthus milbertii (Milbert’s proctacanthus) Promachus bastardii (false bee-killer) Promachus fitchii (giant robber fly) Promachus vertebratus (giant robber fly) Pseudoseioptera albipes (picture-winged fly) Pterelachisus (common crane flies) Pterallastes thoracicus (goldenback) Pyrgota undata (waved light fly) Rabdophaga salicisbrassicoides (willow rosette gall midge) Rabdophaga strobiloides (willow pinecone gall midge) Rainieria antennaepes (stilt-legged fly) Rhagio mystaceus (common snipe fly) Rhagoletis suavis (walnut husk maggot fly) Rhamphomyia fumosa (dance fly) Rhamphomyia irregularis (dance fly) Rhamphomyia longicauda (long-tailed dance fly) Rhamphomyia luteiventris (dance fly) Rhamphomyia pulla (dance fly) Rhamphomyia vittata (dance fly) Rhingia nasica (American snout fly) Rhopalomyia artemisiae (gall midge) Rhopalomyia baccarum (gall midge) Rhopalomyia solidaginis (goldenrod bunch gall midge) Rivellia cognata (signal fly) Rivellia coquilletti (signal fly) Rivellia flavimana (signal fly) Rivellia melliginis (signal fly) Rivellia metallica (signal fly) Rivellia munda (signal fly) Rivellia pallida (signal fly) Rivellia quadrifasciata (soybean nodule fly) Rivellia steyskali (signal fly) Rivellia variabilis (signal fly) Rivellia viridulans (signal fly) Rivellia winifredae (signal fly) Sarcophaga aldrichi (friendly fly) Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis (red-tailed flesh fly) Scathophaga furcata (dung fly) Scathophaga stercoraria (golden dung fly) Schizomyia vitiscoryloides (grape gall midge) Sciaridae (dark-winged fungus gnats) Sepsis punctum (black scavenger fly) Sericomyia chrysotoxoides (oblique-banded pond fly) Sericomyia lata (white-spotted pond fly) Sericomyia militaris (narrow-banded pond fly) Sericomyia transversa (yellow-spotted pond fly) Simuliidae (black fly) Somula decora (spotted wood fly) Sphaeroceridae (lesser dung fly) Sphaerophoria brevipilosa (broad-striped globetail) Sphaerophoria contigua (tufted globetail) Sphaerophoria philanthus (black-footed globetail) Sphaerophoria scripta (long hoverfly) Sphecomyia vittata (long-horned yellowjacket fly) Sphegina campanulata (orange-horned hammertail) Sphegina petiolata (long-spined pufftail) Sphegina rufiventris (black-horned pufftail) Sphegina Subgenus Asiosphegina (pufftails) Sphiximorpha willistoni (Williston’s wasp fly) Spilomyia alcimus (broad-banded hornet fly) Spilomyia fusca (bald-faced hornet fly) Spilomyia longicornis (eastern hornet fly) Spilomyia sayi (four-lined hornet fly) Stomoxys calcitrans (stable fly) Stonemyia rasa (shaved horse fly) Stratiomys adelpha (soldier fly) Stratiomys badia (soldier fly) Stratiomys bruneri (soldier fly) Stratiomys discalis (soldier fly) Stratiomys meigenii (soldier fly) Stratiomys norma (soldier fly) Stratiomys normula (soldier fly) Stratiomys unilimbata (soldier fly) Strauzia longipennis (sunflower maggot fly) Stylogaster neglecta (thick-headed fly) Suillia quinquepunctata (heleomyzid fly) Syritta pipiens (common compost fly) Syrphus rectus (yellow-legged flower fly) Syrphus ribesii (common flower fly) Syrphus torvus (hairy-eyed flower fly) Systoechus vulgaris (grasshopper bee fly) Tabanus atratus (black horse fly) Tabanus catenatus (chained horse fly) Tabanus fulvicallus (brown-footed horse fly) Tabanus lineola (striped horse fly) Tabanus marginalis (marginal horse fly) Tabanus novaescotiae (Nova Scotia horse fly) Tabanus reinwardtii (Reinwardt’s horse fly) Tabanus sagax (sage horse fly) Tabanus similis (similar horse fly) Tabanus spp. (true horse flies) Tabanus stygius (stygian horse fly) Tabanus trimaculatus (three-spotted horse fly) Tabanus turbidus (horse fly) Tachypeza spp. (hybotid dance flies) Tanyptera dorsalis (antlered crane fly) Temnostoma alternans (wasp-like falsehorn) Temnostoma balyras (yellow-haired falsehorn) Temnostoma barberi (bare-bellied falsehorn) Temnostoma excentrica (black-spotted falsehorn) Tetanocera plebeja (marsh fly) Tetanocera valida (marsh fly) Teuchocnemis lituratus (black spur fly) Thaumatomyia glabra (grass fly) Thaumatomyia grata (grass fly) Thecophora occidensis (thick-headed fly) Thelaira americana (tachinid fly) Tipula abdominalis (giant crane fly) Tipula borealis (common crane fly) Tipula caloptera (common crane fly) Tipula dorsimacula (common crane fly) Tipula furca (common crane fly) Tipula oleracea (marsh crane fly) Tipula paludosa (European crane fly) Tipula spp. (common crane flies) Tipula submaculata (common crane fly) Tipula trivittata (common crane fly) Toxomerus geminatus (eastern calligrapher) Toxomerus marginatus (margined calligrapher) Toxomerus politus (maize calligrapher) Toxonevra superba (antlered flutter fly) Trichocera spp. (winter crane fly) Trichopoda pennipes (swift feather-legged fly) Tritoxa flexa (black onion fly) Tritoxa incurva (picture-winged fly) Tropidia quadrata (common thickleg) Trupanea actinobola (fruit fly) Trypetoptera canadensis (marsh fly) Urophora cardui (Canada thistle stem gall fly) Volucella evecta (eastern swiftwing) Volucella facialis (yellow-faced swiftwing) Xanthomelanodes arcuatus (tachinid fly) Xenochironomus xenolabis (non-biting midge) Xylomya americana (wood soldier fly) Xylomya aterrima (wood soldier fly) Xylomya tenthredinoides (wood soldier fly) Xylomya terminalis (wood soldier fly) Xylota angustiventris (two-spotted leafwalker) Xylota ejuncida (polished leafwalker) Xylota tuberculata (short-spined leafwalker) Xylotopus par (non-biting midge) Zavreliella marmorata (non-biting midge) Zelia vertebrata (tachinid fly) |
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_02.jpg "grass fly (Thaumatomyia glabra)")
_01.jpg "heleomyzid fly (Suillia quinquepunctata)")
_01.jpg "hoverfly (Chrysotoxum sp.)")
_01.jpg "hoverfly (Helophilus sp.)")
_01.jpg "hoverfly (Xylota sp.)")
_01.jpg "lesser bulb fly (Eumerus sp.)")
_01.jpg "lesser dung fly (Sphaeroceridae)")
_02.jpg "soldier fly (Stratiomys adelpha or discalis)")
_01.jpg "tachinid fly (Cylindromyia interrupta)")
_02.jpg "thick-headed fly (Physoconops obscuripennis)")
_01.jpg "willow catkin fly (Egle sp.)")
_03.jpg "wood soldier fly (Xylomya terminalis)")
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Capitalization of Common Names
Insect scientific names are governed by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). Vernacular (common) names are not. In an attempt to “assure the uniformity of (common) names of common insects” the Entomological Society of America (ESA) published Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms. ESA has no rule or guideline that addresses capitalization of common names. However, the database of common names published by ESA does not capitalize common names. Most other sources, including ITIS, BAMONA, Odonata Central, and the Peterson Field Guides, capitalize common insect names. MinnesotaSeasons.com will adhere to the convention followed by ESA.
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