Anthrax is a genus of bombyliid flies, commonly known as "bee-flies" due to their resemblance to bees. Most are dull black flies, and are usually small to medium in size, 4–20 millimetres (0.2–0.8 in), and many species have striking wing patterns.
Cluster flies are flies of the genus Pollenia in the family Polleniidae. Unlike the more familiar blow flies, such as the bluebottle genus Phormia, they are completely harmless to human health because they do not lay eggs in human food. They are parasitic on earthworms; the females lay their eggs near earthworm burrows, and the larvae then feed on the worms. But the biology of this group is relatively poorly known and a few have been recorded from other hosts including caterpillars and bees.
The Chamaemyiidae are a small family of acalyptrate flies with less than 200 species described worldwide. The larvae of these small flies are active and predatory and are often used for biological control of aphids, scale insects, and similar pests. Chamaemyiid fossils are poorly represented in amber deposits, but a few examples are known from the Eocene epoch onwards.
The Platystomatidae are a distinctive family of flies (Diptera) in the superfamily Tephritoidea.
Hybotidae, the typical dance flies, are a family of true flies. They belong to the superfamily Empidoidea and were formerly included in the Empididae as a subfamily.
Xylota is a Holarctic genus of hoverflies similar in structure to the related genera Chalcosyrphus and Brachypalpoides. As the larvae are saprophytic they're usually found in rotting wood. The adult flies are generally associated with woodland and woodland edges and can often be seen running over the upper sides of leaves. Unlike other syrphids the adults of many species rarely visit flowers preferring instead to gather pollen from leaf surfaces. There are over 100 described species of which 12 can be found in Europe. Seven species have been recorded in Britain. Identification of species has been difficult and identifiction by photographs is risky.
Spilomyia is a genus of hoverflies. Many species in the genus show Batesian mimicry of wasp models, including black and yellow patterns and modified antenna shape.
Gymnosoma is a genus of flies in the family Tachinidae.
Terellia is a genus of tephritid or fruit flies in the family Tephritidae.
Urophora is a genus of tephritid or fruit flies in the family Tephritidae.
Temnostoma is a genus of hoverflies. The larvae of some species feed on the wood of deciduous trees.
Criorhina is a genus of hoverflies. Medium to large sized species, black or greenish black, with or without light ground markings mimicking bumblebees .The head is much flattened and broader than the thorax. The antennae are situated upon a prominent conical frontal process, The face is moderately produced below the eyes, downward or forward, in profile. The eyes are bare. The abdomen is elliptical or very short oval. Larvae found in rot holes or decaying hardwoods
Chalcosyrphus (Xylotomima) nemorum , the Dusky-banded Leafwalker, is a common species of syrphid fly with a Palearctic and Nearctic distribution. Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight The adults, also know as flower flies for they are commonly found around and on flowers from which they get both enegy-giving nectar and protein rich pollen. Larvae have been found under the bark of Larix, Pinus and a variety of hardwoods.
Chalcosyrphus is a genus of hoverflies in the subfamily Eristalinae. Many species exhibit some degree of mimicry of various sawflies and other hymenopterans and are often brightly coloured or metallic in hue. The adults are similar in structure and behavior to the related genus Xylota but differ in larval morphology. They can be found throughout Europe, Asia, and North America and seem to prefer damper, boggy habitats. The larvae are saproxylic feeders in rotten wood in these habitats.
Empis is a genus of dance fly, in the fly family Empididae. It contains the following subgenera and species:
The Brachyopini is a tribe of hoverflies. Unlike many members of this family these flies are generally darker and less colourful though some genera contain species with an attractive metallic lustre e.g. Chrysogaster. Some like Brachyopa are associated with sap runs where their larvae feed on decaying sap. Others are found in boggy areas where their often semiaquatic larvae feed on decaying organic matter.
Tabaninae is a subfamily of horse flies in the family Tabanidae. There are more than 3000 described species in Tabaninae.
Acrocera is a genus of small-headed flies in the family Acroceridae.
Chrysopsinae is a subfamily of deer flies in the family Tabanidae.
