Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Family Dolichopodidae - Longlegged Flies

what species? - Condylostylus Hydrellia? Long-Legged Fly.  - Condylostylus - male Dipteran - Tachytrechus vorax Longlegged Fly - Sympycninae Diptera Decorated Dolichopodid - Tachytrechus moechus - male Sympycnus lineatus - female
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon (Orthorrhapha)
Superfamily Empidoidea
Family Dolichopodidae (Longlegged Flies)
Explanation of Names
Dolichopodidae Latreille 1809
Numbers
~1300 spp. in almost 60 genera of 14 subfamilies in our area(1)(2), close to 7,400 spp. in ~270 genera total(3)
Size
<1 to 9 mm, usually <5 mm
Identification
Range
Worldwide and throughout NA(1)(2)
Habitat
Lightly shaded areas near swamps and streams, in meadows and woodlands. Larvae in wet to dry soil, in standing or slow moving water.
Food
small insects; larvae of some species mine stems of plants
Life Cycle
Pupation in cocoons made of cemented soil. Courtship involves elaborate male display of legs/wings.
Remarks
Pupae have a pair of long dorsal prothoracic respiratory horns and a pair of frontofacial sutures.
Internet References
(4)