Wildlife Review 2024: Flies

This section covers all true flies (Diptera) except for hoverflies which has their own section.  An expansive order of insects with over 7000 British species, the Recording Area tally (including hoverflies) is 725. This year 161 species were recorded with nine added to the list.  A good year in comparison with recent years. All identification is by sight or photographs, mostly as adults, although larval stages were noted in various leaf mines and galls. This summary is in family order covering a selection of species recorded this year.

Craneflies (Tipuloidea)

Eleven species were identified with one new for the Recording Area, Achyrolimonia decemmaculata, a cranefly of damp woodland found by the Main Pond on 22nd October. Others included Symplecta stictica from 21st January, Limenia nubeculosa from 30th January, Tipula vernalis from 19th March, Phylidorea ferruginea on 30th March, Tipula oleracea from 18th April, Nephrotoma quadrifaria from 6th May, Nephrotoma flavescens from May 17th, Nephrotoma flavipalpis on 17th August and Tipula paludosa from 23rd September. The closely related Ptychoptera contaminata, a phantom cranefly, was seen on 15th May.

Nephrotoma flavipalpis, a Tiger Cranefly 17th August - Alan Keatley 

Gall midges (Cecidoyiidae)

Fifteen species were identified by their galls, including Placochela nigripes on Elder, Rhopalomyia tanaceticola on Tansy and Wachtliella persicariae on Amphibious Bistort. Two new species for the Recording Area,  Dasineura trifolii on clover on 28th September and Dasineura crataegi on Hawthorn on 11th October. 

Dasineura crataegi gall on Hawthorn - Kevin Rylands

Non-biting midges (Chironomidae)

The common midge Chrironomis plumosus was active from 15th May.

St. Mark's flies (Bibionidae)

Spring emerging flies usually found in numbers with Feverfly Dilophus febrilis from 12th February, the small Bibio johannis and B. lanigerus from 15th and 30th March respectively, and finally St. Mark's Fly Bibio marci from the early date of 4th April.

Awl-flies (Xylopagidae)

Just one species recorded on site, Common Awl Robberfly Xylophagus ater favouring wooden fences to hunt from, found from 28th May.

Snipeflies (Rhagionidae)

In low numbers this year, with just three species noted, Downlooker Snipefly Rhagio scolopaceus from 21st May, with Small Fleck-winged Snipefly R. lineola and Marsh Snipefly R. tringarius from 11th June.

Marsh Snipefly Rhagio tringarius 11th June - Alan Keatley

Horseflies (Tabanidae)

Some of the largest UK fly species. A Band-eyed Brown Horsefly Tabanus bromius was found on 12th June and new for the Recording Area, a Large Marsh Horsefly T. autumnalis on 17th June. The once abundant Notch-horned Cleg Haematopota pluvialis were absent for a third year.

Large Marsh Horsefly Tabanus autumnalis 17th June - Alan Keatley

Soldierflies (Stratiomyidae)

Mainly colourful, some metallic looking flies.  Found this year, Murky-legged Black Legionnaire Beris chalybata and the colourful Ornate Brigadier Odontomyia ornata both from 20th May, the latter one of the scarcer soldierflies on site. Other species included Broad Centurion Chloromyia formosa from 25th May, Green Gem Microchrysa flavicollis from 1st June, Black-horned Gem M. polita from 6th July, Flecked Snout Nemotelus notatus and Yellow-legged Black Pachygaster leachii from 7th July, Twin-spot Centurion Sargus bipunctatus from 21st August and Bright Four-spined Legionnaire Chorisops nagatomii on 31st August.

Flecked Snout Nemotelus notatus 11th July - Lee Collins

Bee-flies (Bombyliidae)

A poor year for the only species on site the Dark-winged Beefly Bombylius major, reflecting a poor spring for their host mining bees. The first of very few was noted on 18th April.

Robberflies (Asilidae)

One of the more obvious families, often sat on paths ready to ambush. Several records for these stalker hunters with Dune Robberfly Philonicus albiceps, the most frequent, from 9th May. The first Fan-bristled Robberfly Dysmachus trigonus on 21st May was followed by Stripe-legged Robberfly Dioctria baumhaueri from 30th May, Violet Black-legged Robberfly D. atricapilla from 8th June, Striped Slender Robberfly Leptogaster cylindrica from 27th June and Kite-tailed Robberfly Tolmerus atricapillus from 14th August.

Fan-bristled Robberfly Dysmachus trigonus 30th May - Alan Keatley 

Stiletto flies (Therevidae)

Another family of hunters with Coastal Silver Stiletto Acrosathe annulata on bare sand from 9th May, Common Stiletto Thereva nobilitata from 25th June and Twin-spot Stiletto T. bipunctata from August 14th.

Coastal Silver Stiletto Acrosathe annulata 3rd July - Kevin Rylands 

Dagger flies (Empididae)

Often found nectaring on dandelions, just three species recorded this year; Empis femorata from 4th April, E. trigramma from 1st May and E. livida from 11th May.

Long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae)

A challenging family to identify with just two noted, one new for the Recording Area, Aphrosylus celtiber, a rockpool fly that parasitises barnacles, on 26th February and the distinctive White-tipped Semaphore Fly Poecilobothus nobilitatus from May 20th.

Aphrosylus celtiber 26th February - Alan Keatley

Flat-footed flies (Platypezidae)

A new species for the Recording Area, a multi patterned Polyporivora ornata on 28th May.

Thick-headed flies (Conopidae)

A distinctive family that lays eggs on passing bees or wasps. The first of the year was a Ferruginous Bee-grabber Sicus ferrugineus on 21st May, followed by Four-banded Bee-grabber Conops quadrifasciatus on 27th June, Waisted Bee-grabber Physocephala rufipes on 18th July and finally an autumn flying Ivy Wasp-grabber Leopoldius signatus on 25th September.

Ferruginous Bee-grabber Sicus ferrugineus - Alan Keatley

Shore flies (Ephydridae)

A diminutive pattern-winged fly, Limnellia quadrata was noted on 6th January with Scatella paludum seen on 10th October.

Limnellia quadrata 6th January - Alan Keatley

Dance flies (Hybotidae)

The only species recorded was Hybos culiciformis on 17th August.

Hybos culiciformis 17th August - Alan Keatley

Hump-backed flies (Phoridae)

A parasite of St Mark’s Fly, Borophaga incrassata was found on 10th September. Only the second record after one in 1981.

Borophaga incrassata 10th September - Alan Keatley

Snail-killing flies (Heleomyzidae)

The distinctive Sieve-winged Snail-killer Coremacera marginata was found from 28th May. Other species noted were Field Buff Snail-killer Tetanocera elata and the tiny Trixoscelis obsurella both on 3rd June, a Stripe-backed Snail-killer Limnia unguicornis on 7th August, Common Buff Snail-killer Tetanocera ferruginea from 15th August and a Chalk Snail-killer Dichetophora obliterata on 28th September.

Chalk Snail-killer Dichetophora obliterata 28th September - Alan Keatley

Rust flies (Psilidae)

Just one species noted, Psila firmetaria on 14th May.

Lance flies (Lonchaeidae)

Just one species this year. A spear-winged fly Lonchoptera bifurcata noted on 3rd April.

Gall flies (Tephritdae)

Small flies, often with distinctive wing patterns, the first was a Tephritis neesii on 6th February, with Celery Fly Euleia heraclei, by far the most common on site, noted on 13th April and Burdock Picture-winged Fly T. bardanae on 1st May.

Tephritis neesii 6th February - Alan Keatley

Leaf miner flies (Agromyzidae)

Thirty species were identified by their larval mines, often only found on specific plants. These included Agromyza alnivora on alders, Agromyza nigrescens on cranesbills, Phytomyza angelicae on Angelica, Phytomyza ranunculi on Lesser Celandine, Chromatomyia scolopendri on Hart's-tongue Fern and Liriomyza cicerina on Restharrow. 

Agromyza nigrescens 27th April - Kevin Rylands

Opomyzid (Opomyzidae)

A small fly of grasses, several Geomyza tripunctata noted from 6th January.

Houseflies (Muscidae)

One of the larger dipteran families, with ten species noted this year. The highlights were a Dune Helina H. protuberans found on 9th May, it had gone unrecorded since 2013 and new for the Recording Area, Helina impuncta on 23rd September.

Other muscids this year were Phaonia subventa from 29th January, the distinctive Painted Graphfly Graphomya maculata on 14th May, Ceonosia mollicula on 10th July, Phaonia pallida from 22nd August, Helina evecta and H. reversio from 28th September and finally Noon Fly Mesembrina meridiana, now only seen here in autumn, from 17th October.

Dune Helina H. protuberans 9th May - Alan Keatley

Blowflies (Calliphoridae)

Represented by the familiar blue and greenbottle flies, species recorded included Common Bluebottle Calliphora vicina noted from 6th January, Orange-bearded Bluebottle C. vomitoria from 11th February, the greenbottles Eudasyphora cyanella, also from 11th February, and Neomyia cornicina from 19th February.  Less common species were Pouting Woodlouse Fly Rhinophora lepida from 11th June and the migratory, perhaps now resident, Locust Blowfly Stomorhina lunata from 4th September.

Locust Blowfly Stomorhina lunata 14th September - Alan Keatley

Parasitic flies (Tachinidae)

Another distinctive family with the first Dexiosoma caninum, a parasitoid of Cockchafer beetle larvae was active in woodland edges from 9th May. The colourful Shieldbug Tachnid Ectophasia crassipennis could be found in flower meadows from 28th May with Red-sided Parasite Fly Eriothrix rufomaculata, a parasitoid of grass veneer moth larvae, on the wing from 9th July. Others included Dinera grisescans on 27th August and Siphona geniculata on 12th September.

Shieldbug Tachnid Ectophasia crassipennis 28th May - Alan Keatley

Seaweed flies (Anthomylidae)

The seaweed fly Fucellia tergina was recorded on 25th August.

Kelp flies (Coelopidae)

Commonly found on the strandline, Bristly-legged Seaweed Fly Coelopa frigida were noted from 24th February.

Dung flies (Scathophagidae)

The most familiar member of this group the Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria was noted all year with the first record on 2nd January. Other species included the lesser dung flies Crumomyia fimetaria on 20th January and Lotophila atra from 27th January, Cordilura albipes on 27th April with Shoreline Dung Fly Scapthophaga litorea from the same date.

Later records included Dark-palped Shadow-fly Senotainia conica, a small species, found in sandy places from 2nd June, and Norellisoma spinimanum and Tessellated Satellite-fly Miltogramma germani both from 27th July.

Dark-palped Shadow-fly Senotainia conica 2nd June - Alan Keatley