The family Sciomyzidae belongs to the typical flies (Brachycera) of the order Diptera. They are commonly called marsh flies, and in some cases snail-killing flies due to the food of their larvae.
Sepedon sphegea is a Palearctic species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae, the marsh flies or snail-killing flies. The larva feeds on aquatic snails and as an opportunist on other invertebrates. The habitat of this species includes among many others, pond margins and damp meadows. It has a particular fondness for Iris pseudacorus which grow at the edges of the pond. Adults can be found all year long but the main flight period is from March to October.
Dictya umbrarum is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic and Nearctic. Long. : 4-5 mm. Intensely spotted wings.The interocular space with a black mark at the anterior orbital.The face is white with a black or brown central point. The antennae are reddish, the arista yellow at the base.The body is black covered in a grey yellow pruinosity with shifting (changeant) brown spots on the abdomen.The femora are grey with a brown apical band.The tibia are yellow with a brown apical ring (anneau). For terms see Morphology of Diptera. Dictya montana is a predator of aquatic pulmonate snails with no apparent parasitoid tendency.
Hydromya dorsalis is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic. It is the only species in the genus Hydromya. Males have two elongated processes on the anterior margin of the fourth abdominal sternite. Larvae of Hydromya dorsalis are adapted for aquatic life and prey on aquatic pulmonate snails: Galba truncatula, Lymnaea sp. and Stagnicola palustris. Because of this, they are commonly referred to as snail-killing flies. Adults are found on vegetation all year round but the main flight period is April to October. H. dorsalis is known from most of the Palaearctic and some parts of the Afrotropics countries.
Ilione albiseta is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic .The body length is 8 to 11.2mm and the basic colour is yellowish-brown. The spot on the occiput, the spots at the base of the frontal orbital setae and the almost triangular spots at the edge of the eyes at the height of the antennae are silky dark brown. The long antennae have a whitish hairy arists. There are longitudinal, brown stripes on the yellowish-dustedmesonotum : two narrow in the middle and two wide on the sides. In addition, there is a brown band on the body below the notopleura. The prosternum is bare. Chaetotaxy of the thorax shows strong presutural acrostichal setae and 2–3 well-developed subalar setae. The wings are 6.8 to 8 mm long and usually have 5 marks: on the anterior transverse vein, the medial vein, and the two ends of the posterior transverse vein. If there are only 2 dots on the medial vein, the transverse veins are at least darkened. The legs are yellow with darkened tarsi. The lower surfaces of the femora of the hind legs are equipped with strong and dense setae in males, and with short and sparse setae in females. Males are characterized by a copulatory apparatus with non-swollen abdominal pituitary glands.For terms see Morphology of Diptera. The larva preys on Galba truncatula
Limnia unguicornis is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic.
Pherbellia cinerella is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic. P. cinerella is a dark and very characteristic Pherbellia and easy to recognise in the field by its long mid-frontal stripe and darkened anterior wing margin. The larva is predatory on a variety of terrestrial and aquatic snails including Helicidae, Galba truncatula, Helix, Helicella, Succinea and Lymnaea.There is little or no host preference. It is found in a wide range of habitats but it is most often found in warm and dry habitats such as coastal dunes and calcareous grassland where it can reach high numbers. It is also encountered in moist vegetation though in lesser numbers. It is a potential biological control agent.
Pherbina coryleti is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic . A large, largely yellowish and common species of snail-killing flies. Both sexes have heavily shaded wings.The genital armature of males has gonostyli with a tuft of hairs. The larvae are aquatic and predators of freshwater snails.
Pherbellia schoenherri is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic .4-5 mm. long. In schoenherri the grey ocellar plate is extended in a narrow triangle almost to the antenna base. The prescutellar acrostichal bristles are reduced or absent.The costal vein of the patterned wings are equipped with a series of protruding spinules distinct from the bristles. The females lay eggs on the shells of Succineidae including Succinea putris. The resultant larvae consume the animal and pupate within the shell. P. schoenherri is a very common and widespread species with a very long flight period. It flies mainly from April to October, but in most European countries, it occurs all year round and in a very wide variety of both dry and moist habitats.
Pherbellia ventralis is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic. Pherbellia ventralis is a small sciomyzid. The body is dark grey blue to blue grey contrasting with the yellowish brown abdomen.The mid-frontal stripe is short. The larvae feed on aquatic snails including Stagnicola palustris.
Pteromicra angustipennis is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic. It is a small sciomyzid with 1 + 2 dorsocentral bristles.The transverse veins of the wings have no shadows but they are distinctly shaded at the apex. The larvae predators of terrestrial snails or stranded freshwater pulmonate snails.
Renocera pallida is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic
Tetanocera elata is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic Larvae of T. elata are known obligate feeders on slugs both as parasitoids and predators.
Tetanocera robusta is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic and Nearctic The larvae develop in aquatic pulmonate snails including Gyraulus, Helisoma, Lymnaea, Physa, Planorbis. The habitat is marshy borders of lakes and ponds and permanent marshes.
Anticheta brevipennis is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic
Pherbellia argyra is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic.
Renocera stroblii is a species of fly in the family Sciomyzidae. It is found in the Palearctic
Sepedon spinipes is a species of fly. It is found in the Palearctic
Tetanocerini is a tribe of flies in the family Sciomyzidae. There are more than 400 described species in the tribe.
Ilione is a genus of flies in the family Sciomyzidae, the marsh flies or snail-killing flies.
