Wildlife Review 2025: Diptera (True Flies)

This review covers all flies except for hoverflies which were covered separately. The current site audit is 759 species. This year over 50 were added to the site total, including an impressive 31 added by Devon Fly Group (DFG) members on a couple of field study visits. Many thanks and gratitude to their members for their ongoing contributions. In total at least 270 species were noted this year,. all new species are mentioned  the review along with a selection of records covering all recorded families.

Craneflies (Tipulidae)
Long-legged and long bodied flies. Two new species, a Tipula rufina on 4th March and Tricyphonia immaculata on 10th May. Ten other craneflies species were recorded.

Tipula oleracea 22nd May - Dean Hall

Phantom Craneflies (Ptychopteridae)
Similar in appearance to Craneflies. One new species Ptychoptera albimana on 10th May, with Ptychoptera contaminata on 6th June. 

Biting midges (Ceratopogonidae)
Tiny flies not all of which bite! Two such species were found new for the Recording Area on 10th May; Dasyhelea turficola, which breeds on mudflats and is widespread in the estuary, and Schizohelea leucopeza.

Gall midges (Cecidomyiidae)
Tiny flies, most easily identified by larval galls. A new species, Macrodiplosis pustularis was recorded on oak leaves on 8th June, with Placochela nigripes on Elder recorded from 14th June and Wachtliella persicariae on Amphibious Bistort on 12th July.

Macrodiplosis pustularis 8th June - Kevin Rylands

Leaf-miner flies (Agromyzidae)
Small flies, mostly identifiable by leaf mines on host plants. Twenty-two species were identified this way, including Agromyza nigrescens on crane's-bill and  Cerodeentha iridis on Stinking Iris in February and Chromatomyia ramosa on Teasel on 14th June. Phytomyza crassiseta mines on Germander Speedwell was new on 11th August.

Phytomyza crassiseta 11th August - Kevin Rylands

Thick-headed flies (Conopidae)
Parasitoids of bees and wasps. Ferruginous Bee-grabber Sicus ferrugineus were recorded fom 10th May, with a Four-banded Bee-grabber Conops quadrifasciatus on 12th July.

Ferruginous Bee-grabber Sicus ferrugineus 8th June - Kevin Rylands

Grass flies (Chloropidae)
Small gall forming flies. Some species are crop pests. Two new species recorded, the nationally scarce Eurina lurida on 24th April, found around the food plant Sea Club-rush, and Lipara rufitarsis on 10th May. Other species included Eutropha fulvifrons from 16th January, Elachiptera cornuta and Lasiophaeta pubescens on 10th May and Thaumatomyia notata on 30th October.

Eurina lurida 24th April - Alan Keatley

Shore flies (Ephydridae)
Aquatic or semi-aquatic species. The Devon Fly Group found four new species on 10th May; Discocerina obscurella, Ditrichophora fuscella, Gymnoclasiopa plumosa and Parydra coarctata. On the same dates they also recorded Scatella subguttata, S. lutosa and S. lacustris with Glenanthe ripicola and Scatella ciliata on 11th August.

Humpback flies (Phoridae)
Small flies, also known as scuttle flies, as they run rather than fly. Phora atra was recorded on 16th July.

Phora atra 16th July - Alan Keatley

Fruit flies (Drosophilidae)
Small robust flies, larvae develop in rotten fruit or fungi. First of the year, Saphomyza graminum on 26th February with Oscinella frit on 17th September.

Oscinella frit 17th September - Alan Keatley

Beach flies (Canacidae)
Small intertidal flies. A rarely recorded Tethina flavigenis noted on 10th May was new for the Recording Area. Tethina illota was found on 11th August.

Druid flies (Clusiidae)
Small flies, larvae develop in rotting wood, in holes made by other insects. Only ten UK species. New for Recording Area was Clusiodes gentilis on 10th May, with Clusiodes albimanus also recorded on the same date.

Lauxanlid flies (Lauxanlidae)
Small orange or black, associated with fungi. Two species on 10th May, Minettia fasciata and M. tabidiventris. Minettia longipennis was a new species on 12th August with Meiosimyza rorida was noted on 4th October.

Minettia longipennis 12th August - Alan Keatley

Snail-killing flies (Sciomyzidae)
Many associated with wetlands, six species were recorded this year including Spotted Buff Snailkiller Ilone albiseta, Striped-back Snailkiller Limnia unguicornis and Stripe-headed Little Snailkiller Pherbellia cinerella on 10th May, Five-spotted Snailkiller Hydromya dorsalis on 15th June and Sieve-winged Snailkiller Coremacera marginata from 21st September.

Common Buff Snailkiller Tetanocera ferruginea - Alan Keatley

Black scavenger flies (Sepsidae)
Small glossy black flies. The first of the year, Orygona luctuosum on 12th March. On 10th May, Sepsis punctum and S. violacea.

Fungus flies (Dryomyzidae)
Only three UK species. The orange Hooded Dryomyza D. analis noted on 25th October.

Hooded Dryomyza D. analis 25th October - Alan Keatley

Opomyzid flies (Opomyzidae)
Small grassland flies with spotted wings. The common Geomyza tripunctata from 16th January and Geomyza subnigra from 1st February. A Geomyza cominata agg. was a new species-pair on 4th October.

Geomyza tripunctata - Alan Keatley

Trembling-wing flies (Palloteridae)
Small flies also known as flutter flies, often with distinctive patterned wings. One new species, Rush Flutter Fly Palloptera scutellata on 10th March.

Rush Flutter Fly Palloptera scutellata - Alan Keatley

St.Mark's Flies (Bibioidae)
Small to large black flies that can swarm in large numbers. Four common species this year, Feverfly Dilophus febrilis from 22nd February, Bibio johannis on 20th March, the familiar St.Mark's Fly Bibio marci in low numbers from 21st April and the smaller Bibio lanigerus on 10th May.

Bibio johannis - Alan Keatley

Snipeflies (Rhagionidae)
Small to large, elongated with black stigma wing spot. The first of the familiar Downlooker Snipefly Rhagio scolopaceus on 10th May, Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus on 5th June and Little Snipefly C. asiliformis on 15th June.

Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus (fenale) 5th June - Alan Keatley

Horseflies (Tabanidae)
Large flies with a bad reputation, although only the females bite. Summer flies often found basking in woodland clearings. Four species this year; Band-eyed Horsefly Tabanus bromius on 2nd and Large Marsh Horsefly Tabanus autumnalis on 10th June, the once numerous Notch-horned Cleg Haematopota pluvialis on 5th July and a Twin-lobbed Deerfly Chrysops relictus, a new species, on 12th July.

Notch-horned Cleg Haematopota pluvialis 19th July - Alan Keatley

Bee-flies (Bombyliidae)
Larvae develop in solitary bee nests. A few Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major were recorded from 22nd April, mostly around Langstone Rock.

Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major 29th April - Kevin Rylands

Soldierflies (Stratiomyidae)
Mostly brightly coloured broad-bodied summer flies, although some are metallic looking. Low numbers and diversity this year with Broad Centurion Chloromyia formosa from 16th May, Yellow-legged Black Pachygaster leachii on 15th June, Dark-winged Black Pachygaster atra from 6th July and Bright Four-spined Legionnaire Chorisops nagatomii on 22nd September. Disappointingly no reports of the nationally scarce Ornate Brigadier Odontomyia ornata this year, the dry conditions not to its liking.

Bright Four-spined Legionnaire Chorisops nagatomii 22nd September - Alan Keatley

Robberflies (Asilidae)
Predator flies, long and bristly. Nine species this year including the largest British fly, Hornet Robberfly Asilus crabroniformis found new to the Recording Area by the Entrance Bushes on 1st September. A locally scarce robberfly that preys on large insects, including grasshoppers when adult. Other species include Striped Slender Robberfly Leptogaster cylindrica on 1st June, Common Awl Robberfly Neotanus cyanurus from 5th June and Dune Robberfly Philonicus albiceps from 23rd June.

Hornet Robberfly Asilus crabroniformis 1st September - Alan Keatley

Stiletto flies (Therevidae)
Two species recorded this year the smart Coastal Silver-stiletto Acrosathe annulata on bare sand from 17th April and Common Stiletto Thereva nobilitata from 10th May.

Coastal Silver-stiletto Acrosathe annulata 17th April - Alan Keatley

Dance flies (Empididae)
A large family with over 200 UK species from very small to large. Frequent flower visitors. New species this year all from the DFG on 10th May; Empis punctata, Rhamphomyia crassirostris, R. tarsata and R. simplex. The most common;y recorded species included Empis femorata from 4th April, E. tessellata from 28th April, E. stercorea from 10th May and E. livida on 19th May.

Empis scutellata 16th July - Alan Keatley

Long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae)
Small slender, often metallic looking flies. A large family with over 300 UK species. In total 21 species this year, a good return. Several new species were identified by Devon Fly Group including Campsicnemus curvipes, C. scambus, Dolichopus andalusiacus, Rhaphium consobrinum and Syntormon pseudspicatum all on 10th May. The distinctive feather-legged male Dolichopus plumipes, plus Gymnopternus aerosus, G. cupreus, G. metallicus and G. silvestris were recorded on the same date with the saltmarsh species Hydrophorus oceanus.

Hydrophorus oceanus 10th May - Mike Ashworth

Big-headed flies (Pipunculidae)
Parasitoid of small true bugs. One species recorded, Tomosvarylla kuthyi on 11th August was a new Warren species.

Stilt-legged flies (Micropezidae)
A woodland family. Only ten UK species. Neria cibaria recorded on 19th May.

Neria cibaria 19th May - Alan Keatley

Diatatids (Diatatidae)
A small "picture-winged" family of six UK species. Campichoeta punctum was recorded on 10th May.

Chamaemyia aphid flies (Chamaemyidae)
Small grey, mainly coastal flies. Two species recorded on 10th May, Chamaemyia flavipalpis and C. polystigma.

Dung flies (Scathophagidae)
Feed on prey on dung, small to medium size flies, larvae of some species mine leaves. New species, a Many-bristled Timothy Fly Cleigastra fasciata on 22nd April. The most familiar Common Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria was first seen on 3rd February but was present in very low numbers this year. Other species included a lesser dung fly Lotophila atra on 30th January, Cordilura albipes on 14th April, Norellisoma spinimanum on 19th April, Strandline Dung Fly Scathophaga litorea from 10th May, and Ceratinostoma ostiorum on 11th August.

Many-bristled Timothy Fly Cleigastra fasciata 22nd April - Alan Keatley

Heleomyzid flies (Heleomyzidae)
Small flies that feed on decaying plant, fungi and animal matter. New species included Tephrochlamys rufiventris on 24th April and Suillia humilis on 24th September. Other species include the common Suillia variegata from 2nd February.

Tephrochlamys rufiventris 24th April - Alan Keatley

Houseflies and allies (Muscidae)
A large family of familiar looking flies. A good return with twenty-six species including eight new species, six from the Devon Fly Group - Coenosia albicornis, Helina depuncta, H. parcepilosa, Limnophora macilosa, Macrorchis meditata and Wandering Bristleshin Phaonia errans all on 10th May. The other three new species were a Grizzled Bristleshin P. serva on 24th April, Orange Thricops T. diaphanus on 17th June and Black-patched Limnophora L. tigrina on 11th September.

Black-patched Limnophora L. tigrina 11th September - Alan Keatley

Root maggot flies (Anthomyiidae)
Related to muscids, looking like small house flies. Three new for the Recording Area, Botanophila depressa, a stem borer, on 10th May, Leucophora cinerea, a nest parasitoid of solitary bees on 13th June and Eustalomyia festiva, found around dead wood, a cleptoparasite of wood nesting digger wasps on 5th July. Other species include Hydrophora lancifer on 28th April, Delia radium on 10th May, Anthomyia pluvialis on 14th July., and the seaweed fly Fucellia maritima on 11th August.

Eustalomyia festiva 5th July - Alan Keatley

Tephritids gall flies (Tephritidae)
Pictured wings, often colourful. A new species was a Thistle Gall Fly Urophora cardui gall on Creeping Thistle on 22th October. Other species included the mines of the common Celery Fly Euleia heraclei from 11th January, with adults frequent later in the year, Tephritis neesii on 22nd February, Tephritis vespertina on 24th March, and Sea Aster Campiglossa C. plantaginis and Knapweed Ghost Acanthiophilus helianthi on 11th August.

Sea Aster Campiglossa C. plantaginis 17th August - Kevin Rylands

Lesser houseflies (Fannidae)
Feed on organic materials and includes the common "housefly". One new species this year, Fannia serena on 10th May, along with the previously recorded F. genualis.

Blowflies (Calliphoridae)
This family includes bluebottles and greenbottles. Nine species recorded, apart from the common blue and greenbottles notable species were Locust Blowfly Stomorhina lunata, a migratory species that has become more numerous in recent years, Dune Bristlecheek Periscepsia carbonaria on 19th September and new for the Recording Area, a Smoke-winged Woodlouse Fly Melanophora rorida on 7th October.

Dune Bristlecheek Periscepsia carbonaria 19th September - Alan Keatley

Flesh flies (Sarcophagidae)
Small to large. Striped and chequered, some are parasitoids of bees and wasps. Tessellated Bee-burglar Miltogramma germari on 2nd June, with Pygmy Flesh Fly Sarcophaga nigriventris on 11th August. A Spotted Bee-burglar Miltogramma punctata found on 16th August was new for the Recording Area.

Flat flies (Hippoboscidae)
Ectoparasites feeding on blood of birds. Ornithomya avicularia was recorded on 25th June.

Parasitic flies (Tachinidae)
Another large fly family that are parasitoids to various insects and their larvae. Just five species recorded. the increasing recent arrival Ectophasia crassipennis targeting shieldbugs from 10th May, Carcelia lucorum on 22nd May, Eriothrix rufomaculata from 5th July and Eurithis anthophila on 16th August are all moth larvae parasitoids, Dexiosoma caninum on 8th July parasitises Cockchafer and Platymya fimbriata on 24th July, host unknown.

Eriothrix rufomaculata 10th July - Alan Keatley