Family Anisopodidae - Wood Gnats

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Print References · Works Cited

Fly Pair - Sylvicola alternatus - male - female

Wood Gnat (subgenus Anisopus) - Sylvicola - female

Sylvicola sp - Sylvicola fenestralis - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon ("Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera))

Infraorder Bibionomorpha (Gnats, Gall Midges, and March Flies)

Family Anisopodidae (Wood Gnats)

Explanation of Names

Anisopodidae Knab 1912

from Anisopus, 'having dissimilar feet'

Numbers

9 spp. in 3 genera in our area(1), ~200 spp. in 24 genera total(2)

Size

4-8 mm

Identification

mosquito-like but proboscis shorter than head; usually dark spots on wings

Range

worldwide

Habitat

larvae in/near decaying wood or vegetation, fermenting sap, animal manure, tree trunks, mud, and sometimes sewage

adults on foliage or around flowing sap in or near damp places; may swarm and come to lights

Print References

Malloch, J. R. 1917. A preliminary classification of Diptera, exclusive of Pupipara, based upon larval and pupal characters, with keys to imagines in certain families. Part 1. Bull. Ill. St. Lab. nat. Hist. l2: l6l-410; plates 28-57.

Edwards, F. W. 1928. Diptera. Fam. Protorhyphidae, Anisopodidae, Pachyneuridae, Trichoceridae. Fascicle 190, Pages 1-41, Plates l-2 in P. Wytsman, ed. Genera insectorum. Bruxelles. (Biodiversity Heritage Library)

Alexander, C. P. 1942. Guide to the insects of Connecticut. Part VL The Diptera or true flies of Connecticut. First Fascicle. Family Anisopodidae. Bull. Conn. St. geol. nat. Hist. Surv. 64:192-198 [reprinted 1966]

Lane, J., and C. d'Andretta, Jr. 1958. Neotropical Anisopodidae (Diptera, Nematocera). Studia ent. 1: 497-528.

Stone, A. 1965. Notes on Nearctic Sylvicola species (Diptera, Anisopodidae). Proc. ent. Soc. Wash. 67: 149-151.

Pratt, G. K., and H. D. Pratt. 1980. Notes on Nearctic Sylvicola (Diptera: Anisopodidae). Proc. ent. Soc. Wash. 82: 86-98.

Works Cited

1.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.

2.	Order Diptera Linnaeus, 1758. In: Zhang Z.-Q. (ed.) Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification... Pape T., Blagoderov V., Mostovski M.B. 2011. Zootaxa 3148: 222–229.

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 4 March, 2005 - 11:08am
Additional contributions by cotinis, v belov, Arturo Santos
Last updated 26 March, 2023 - 2:02pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version