Nematocera

Canthyloscelidae

The Canthyloscelidae are a small family of midges closely related to the Scatopsidae. [more]

Canthyloscelididae

The Canthyloscelidae are a small family of midges closely related to the Scatopsidae. [more]

Cecidomyiidae

Cecidomyiidae (sometimes misspelled Cecidomyidae) is a family of flies (Order Diptera) known as gall midges or gall gnats. As the name implies, the larvae of most gall midges feed within plant tissue, creating abnormal plant growths called galls. [more]

Ceratopogonidae

Ceratopogonidae, or biting midges (including what are called, in the United States and Canada, no-see-ums, midgies, sand flies, punkies, and others), are a family of small flies (1?4 mm long) in the order Diptera. They are closely related to the Chironomidae, Simuliidae (or black flies), and Thaumaleidae. [more]

Chaoboridae

Chaoboridae, commonly known as phantom midges, are a family of fairly common midges with a cosmopolitan distribution. They are closely related to Corethrellidae and Chironomidae; the adults are differentiated through peculiarities in wing venation. If they eat at all, the adults feed on nectar. The larvae are aquatic. They are unique due to their feeding method. The antennae of phantom midge larvae are modified into a grasping organ, which captures food, such as small insect larvae and crustaceans like Daphnia and mosquito larvae. The antennae impale or crush the prey and then bring it to the larval mouth, or stylet. The larvae sometimes move about their lacustrine habitats in large swarms. [more]

Chironomidae

Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids or non-biting midges) are a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae. Many species superficially resemble mosquitoes but they lack the wing scales and elongate mouthparts of the Culicidae. [more]

Corethrellidae

Corethrellidae is a family of parasitic midges, small flying insects belonging to the Order Diptera, that are commonly known to parasitize frogs. The members of the family are sometimes known as "frog-biting midges". The family currently consists of just two genera, totalling around ninety seven species worldwide. There are several fossil species known. Most extant species are found in the lower latitudes, usually associated around the tropics. [more]

Culicidae

Mosquitoes are a family of small, midge-like flies, the Culicidae. Although a few species are harmless or even useful, most cause a nuisance by sucking blood from vertebrates, including humans. Several of the most harmful human and livestock diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes during feeding. Accordingly, some authorities argue that mosquitoes are the most dangerous animals on earth. [more]

Cylindrotomidae

The Cylindrotomidae or Long-bodied Craneflies, are a family of flies closely related to true crane flies. There are about 115 species worldwide. [more]

Deuterophlebiidae

The fly genus Deuterophlebia is the sole member of the small monotypic family Deuterophlebiidae or mountain midges. Adults have broad, fan-shaped wings, and males have extremely long antennae which they employ when contesting territories over running water, waiting for females to hatch. Larvae occur in swiftly flowing streams and are easily recognized by their forked antennae and the prolegs on the abdomen. [more]

Diadocidiidae

Diadocidiidae is a family of Diptera. There are two described genera with over twenty species. Diadocidiidae are found worldwide, except in Africa and Antarctica. It is usually considered close to Keroplatidae, Bolitophilidae and Ditomyiidae, and was previously included in Mycetophilidae. They are woodland flies. The larvae spin silken tubes under bark or in dead logs. [more]

Ditomyiidae

Ditomyiidae is a family of Diptera comprising only two genera: and Symmerus. [more]

Dixidae

The Dixidae (meniscus midges) are a family of aquatic nematoceran Diptera. The larvae live in unpolluted, standing fresh waters, just beneath the surface film, usually amongst marginal aquatic vegetation . [more]

Hesperinidae

[more]

Keroplatidae

Mycetophilidae is a family of small flies, forming the bulk of those species known as fungus gnats. There are approximately 3000 described species in 150 genera but the true number of species is undoubtedly much higher. They are generally found in the damp habitats favoured by their host fungi and sometimes form dense swarms. [more]

Limoniidae

Limoniidae is a family of flies closely related to the crane flies Tipulidae although they can usually be distinguished by the way the wings are held at rest. Limoniids usually hold/fold the wings along the back of the body whereas tipulids usually hold them out at right angles. Members of the genus Chionea (snow flies) have no wings at all. Limoniids are also usually smaller than tipulids, although there are exceptions. Limoniidae is a very large family with nearly 10500 described species in 133 genera. These flies are found in damp places throughout the world and many species form dense swarms in suitable habitats. [more]

Lygistorrhinidae

[more]

Manotidae

[more]

Mycetobiidae

[more]

Mycetophilidae

Mycetophilidae is a family of small flies, forming the bulk of those species known as fungus gnats. There are approximately 3000 described species in 150 genera but the true number of species is undoubtedly much higher. They are generally found in the damp habitats favoured by their host fungi and sometimes form dense swarms. [more]

Nymphomyiidae

The Nymphomyiidae are a family of tiny (2 mm.)slender, delicate flies (Diptera). Larvae are found among aquatic mosses in small, rapid streams in northern regions of the world. Many fossil species and a few extant species are known. Under an alternative classification, they are considered the only living representatives of a separate, archaic suborder called "Archidiptera". [more]

Pachyneuridae

[more]

Pediciidae

The Pediciidae or Hairy-eyed Craneflies, are a family of flies closely related to true crane flies. There are about 500 species worldwide. [more]

Perissommatidae

Perissommatidae is a family of Diptera that was newly proposed in 1962. The family contains five species, four from Australia and one from Chile. Perissommatidae are unusual as they have four eyes. They have a small slender body that's less than 2mm in length. Their wings are large in comparison to their body and subsequently their flight is weak. Preferring high altitude forest environments, adults only fly in the winter. In the case of Perissomma macalpinei numbers of adults have been observed congregate in clumps of foliage, rising in short zigzag flights in the sunlight above the foliage for short periods before descending back. [more]

Pleciidae

[more]

Pleciofungivoridae

[more]

Psychodidae

The nematoceran family Psychodidae (moth flies or drain flies) are small true flies (Diptera) with short, hairy bodies and wings giving them a "furry" moth-like appearance. The adults have long antennae and the wings are leaf-shaped, either slender or broad, with the most elementary wing venation of any Diptera, having little more than a series of parallel veins without crossveins. Adult Psychodidae are typically nocturnal and associated with damp habitats. The larvae of the subfamilies Psychodinae, and Horaiellinae live in aquatic to semi-terrestrial habitats, including bathroom sinks; some species are commonly nuisance pests in bathrooms. These pests are commonly removed through use of boiling water, bleach, or drain cleaner. [more]

Ptychopteridae

Ptychopteridae, the phantom crane flies, is a small family (three extant genera) of nematocerous Diptera. Superficially similar in appearance to other "tipuloid" families, they lack the ocelli of Trichoceridae, the 5-branched radial vein of Tanyderidae, and the two anal veins that reach the wing margin of Tipulidae. They are usually allied with the Tanyderidae based on similarities of the mesonotal suture, this group being called the Ptychopteromorpha. [more]

Rangomaramidae

[more]

Scatopsidae

The minute black scavenger flies or "dung midges", Scatopsidae, is a family of Nematoceran flies. Despite being distributed throughout the world, it is quite a small family with only around 250 described species in 27 genera although many await description and doubtless even more await discovery. These are generally small, sometimes minute, dark flies (from 0.6 to 5mm), generally similar to black flies (Simuliidae) but usually lacking the humped thorax characteristic of that family. [more]

Sciaridae

Sciaridae is a family of flies, commonly known as dark-winged fungus gnats. Commonly found in moist environments, they are known to be a pest of mushroom farms and are commonly found in household plant pots. This is one of the least studied of the large Diptera families, probably due to the small size of these insects and the difficulty in specific identification. There are currently around 1700 described species but there are estimated to be up to 20,000 species awaiting discovery, mainly in the tropics. More than 600 species are known from Europe. [more]

Simuliidae

A black fly (sometimes called a buffalo gnat, turkey gnat, or white socks) is any member of the family Simuliidae of the Culicomorpha infraorder. They are related to the Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae, and Thaumaleidae. There are over 1,800 known species of black flies (of which 11 are extinct). Most species belong to the immense genus Simulium. Most black flies gain nourishment by feeding on the blood of mammals, including humans, although the males feed mainly on nectar. They are usually small, black or gray, with short legs, and antennae. They are a common nuisance for humans, and many U.S. states have programs to suppress the black fly population. They spread several diseases, including river blindness in Africa (Simulium damnosum and S. neavei) and the Americas (Simulium callidum and S. metallicum in Central America, S. ochraceum in Central and South America). [more]

Tanyderidae

Tanyderidae, or primitive crane flies, of the order Diptera are long, thin, delicate insects with spotted wings, superficially similar in appearance to some Tipulidae, Trichoceridae, and Ptychopteridae. Most species are restricted in distribution. They are found in many parts of the world, including North America, South America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and various islands in the Pacific Ocean. Adults are usually found hanging from vegetation near streams. Larvae are found either in sandy stream margins or in wet, rotten wood. Fossil species are known. [more]

Thaumaleidae

Thaumaleidae, the solitary midges or trickle midges, are a group of nematoceran flies related to the Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae, and the Simuliidae. They are small, stocky, yellow to brown flies (3-4 mm). There are very few species known for this family (about 120 species in five genera). Larvae are found in films on rocks and the non- feeding adults are usually found on foliage along the same streams in which the larvae are found. A few solitary midges are found in the southern hemisphere, but Thaumaleidae are generally an Holarctic family. [more]

Tipulidae

A crane fly is an insect in the family Tipulidae. Adults are very slender, long-legged flies that may vary in length from 2?60 millimetres (0.079?2.4 in) though tropical species may exceed to 100 millimetres or 3.9 inches. [more]

Trichoceridae

Trichoceridae, or winter crane flies, of the order Diptera are long, thin, delicate insects superficially similar in appearance to the Tipulidae, Tanyderidae, and Ptychopteridae. The presence of ocelli distinguishes the Trichoceridae from these other families. The adults can be found flying in the fall and the spring and some are active even in the winter, hence their common name. Adults can also be found resting inside caves and hollow logs. Larvae occur in moist habitats where they feed on decaying vegetable matter. [more]

At least 201 species and subspecies belong to the Family Trichoceridae.

More info about the Family Trichoceridae may be found here.

Sources

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