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

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Calendar

Upcoming Events

National Moth Week was July 19-27, and the Summer 2025 gathering in Louisiana, July 19-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Family Chamaemyiidae

Representative Images

Need ID for fly associated with Cochineal - Leucopis bellula Unknown Fly - Leucopis small fly near leaf full of aphids and ants - Leucopis Chamaemyiidae, lateral - Leucopis Another Leucopis? - Leucopis - female Chamaemyiidae? - Leucopis Chamaemyiidae sp? - Chamaemyia Chamaemyia

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Acalyptratae")
Superfamily Lauxanioidea
Family Chamaemyiidae

Other Common Names

Silver Flies, Aphid Flies

Explanation of Names

Chamaemyiidae Hendel 1910

Numbers

100-150 nearctic spp. in 8 genera of 3 subfamilies(1), ~350 spp. in 30 genera worldwide(2)

Identification

Usually silvery gray with black spots, but some are tiny, shiny black flies(3)

Food

Larvae consume aphids, scales

Remarks

Some species have been used to control aphid and scale pests

Works Cited

1.Manual of Nearctic Diptera Volume 2
Varies for each chapter; edited by J.F. McAlpine, B.V. Petersen, G.E. Shewell, H.J. Teskey, J.R. Vockeroth, D.M. Wood. 1987. Research Branch Agriculture Canada.
2.USDA Diptera Site (now closed)
3.Insects: Their Natural History And Diversity: With a Photographic Guide to Insects of Eastern North America
Stephen A. Marshall. 2006. Firefly Books Ltd.
Contributed by tom murray on 23 July, 2005 - 6:06pm
Additional contributions by Graham M, v belov
Last updated 25 December, 2014 - 8:05pm

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