Subpage flies:  Tachinidae      Blow-flies (Calliphoridae)      House flies (Muscidae)      Soldierflies (Stratiomyidae)      Root-Maggot Flies (Anthomyiidae)      Small flies      Gnats   

Nederlands / Dutch

House flies Muscidae

Anthomyia procellaris. Family Root-Maggot Flies (Anthomyiidae).

Phaonia errans. Family House flies (Muscidae).

There are some subfamilies.  On this page: Azeliinae, Coenosiinae, Muscinae, Mydaeinae and Phaoniinae. These subfamilies are divided into tribes.  

Subfamily Azeliinae. 

Tribe Azeliini. 

.. . Azelia spec. Genus Azeliinae. Tribe Azeliini. Subfamily Azeliinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  The flowers of an ivy bush. They are small flies (about 4 mm) with beautiful orange eyes. There are some similar species. Photo 29-9-2010.

.. . .   Azelia cilipes. Genus Azeliinae. Tribe Azeliini. Subfamily Azeliinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  In the same ivy. This fly is easier to identify. Photo 29-9-2010.

Genus Hydrotaea. 
Flies of the family Hydrotaea are often found on manure near the farmes. The larvae live in dung, and are carnivores. They also eat the larvae of the housefly.

.. Black dump fly (Hydrotaea aenescens, formely Ophyra aenescens). Genus: Hydrotaea. Tribe Azeliini. Subfamily Azeliinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  A black, shiny fly. Native to the United States, Central and South America. In the 20th century, they moved to Europe. The black dump fly is used as as a biological control agent for house flies. The larvae are predators of many larvae of house flies. At the farms black dump flies tend to stay in the manure pits. They do not attempt to feed or rest on animals or humans. Photos 22-6-2010.

.. Male. . Female. Hydrotaea dentipes. Genus: Hydrotaea. Tribe Azeliini. Subfamily Azeliinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  A dark, shiny fly. A little lighter-coulored with more drawing than the other flies of the genus Hydrotaea on this page. Photos 17-6-2012, 15-5-2010.

.. .   Hydrotaea diabolus. Genus: Hydrotaea. Tribe Azeliini. Subfamily Azeliinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  Another dark flight. A striking feature is the long hair at the end of the femur (knee). Photos 15-5-2010.

.. . .   Hydrotaea ignava. Genus: Hydrotaea. Tribe Azeliini. Subfamily Azeliinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  Shiny black flies. They keep the wings on each other. They look like the  Hydrotaea aenescens. Photos 8-6-2012.

Genus Thricops.

.. . .  Thricops diaphanus, synonym Thricops varians. Genus Thricops. Tribe Azeliini. Subfamily Azeliinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  Here in the sun on the wall. I see this fly not often, whereas it is clearly recognized by the orange colour. On the thorax near the head it has white stripes. On the head between the eyes is a dark stripe. It  looks a bit like the Phaonia pallida. But that fly is on the head between the eyes orange. Palaearctic. Photos 18-10-2011, 31-10-2012.

Subfamily Coenosiinae. 

Tribe Coenosiini.

Genus Coenosia. 
The flies in this genus are robber flies.

..  . .   Coenosia tigrina. Genus Coenosia. Tribe Coenosiini. Subfamily Coenosiinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  Note Joke van Erkelens (translated): I see a long orbital and the yellowish discoloration of the underside of the leg (tibia) is running from the "knees" partially to the top of the leg (femur) .... and then the two long hairs on the underside of the tibia, this means it is the Coenosia tigrina is. (female) The larva feeds on earthworms and larvae of other flies. The fly is a robber fly and catches flies. You would not expect that when you see this fly. In greenhouses they can be useful. There is also investigated. Last photo: A pregnant female. By stretching the abdomen, you see the shiny black underlayer between the segments. Photos 12-6-2010, 24-7-2012, 17-8-2012, 30-10-2013. Coenosia tigrina with prey, 3-6-2014.

.. . .  Coenosia spec. Genus Coenosia. Tribe Coenosiini. Subfamily Coenosiinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). This Coenosia is much smaller than the Coenosia tigrina. (About 3 - 4 mm) These small flies are not to determine from a photo. Photos 11-10-2010.

..  Coenosia atra. Genus Coenosia. Tribe Coenosiini. Subfamily Coenosiinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). This Coenosia is even smaller (about 3 mm), but is remarkable. I had not recognized it as Coenosia. (Thanks Niels-Jan ) A shiny black fly. The legs are black. The side of the thorax is pale. Photo 24-8-2011, 20-8-2012. ( A year later with a prey).

.. . . .  Coenosia agromyzina. Genus Coenosia. Tribe Coenosiini. Subfamily Coenosiinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). Again about 3 mm. On the photo, it holds a prey. I had expected it would be spec.  Explanation Joke van Erkelens (translated): The (dark thickened) Costa of  Coenosia agromyzina runs just a little further or R 4 +5 vein.  For all other species Coenosia:  The costa runs to vein M1. Photos 2-10-2011, 5-11-2011.    Explanation  (ader = vein. Verdikte donkere costa = dark thickened costa)

Genus Limnophora.

.. .  Limnophora maculosaFamily House flies (Muscidae).  A gray fly with dark spots on the abdomen. Photos 26-06-2012. Joke van Erkelens: 2 orbital hairs centrals + 2 + 3 dorsal posterior dorsal hairs on the middle shin... = female Limnophora maculosa. (transleted)

Genus Lispocephala.

.. . .  Lispocephala brachialis. Genus Lispocephala. Tribe Coenosiini. Subfamily Coenosiinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  A small fly. About 4, 5 mm.  A gray thorax, abdomen orange. Orange legs, but the thigh of the front legs is gray. The first segment of the antenna is orange, About the lifestyle is not much known. Central and southern Europe, North Africa. Photos 20-3-2011.

Subfamily Muscinae. 

Tribe Muscini.

Genus Eudasyphora 

Genus Eudasyphora.
There are 3 known species Eudasyphora in Europe (E.cyanella / E.cyanicolor / E. zimini). In the Netherlands Eudasyphora cyanella is the best known species.

.. . Male. Female. Eudasyphora cyanella. Genus Eudasyphora. Tribe Muscini. Subfamily Muscinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). It is a shiny green fly like the Greenbottle.  It also has black bristle-like hair on the thorax. But in the center are some hairs missing. That 's a difference. Sometimes the Greenbottle  misses hairs in the center too. But less. As you can see in the pictures is one fly darker green than the other. Also the size varies.  Photos March 2012 Blowing bubbles

Genus Mesembrina.

.. .  Noon fly (Mesembrina meridiana). Genus Mesembrina. Tribe Muscini. Subfamily Muscinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  In the Netherlands, a general fly. Near Bergen (NH) it is not often observed.  A beautiful, large, shiny black fly. The face and wing bases are coloured orange.  These flies are usually seen sunbathing on walls and trees. The larvae of noon flies are found in manure. They feed on other fly larvae. Of the genus Mesembrina it is the only species in the Netherlands. Length: 9 - 13 mm. April - October. Photos 28-10-2012.

Genus Morellia.

..  Morellia aenescens.  Male. Genus Morellia.  Tribe Muscini. Subfamily Muscinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). A shiny dark fly. In the Netherlands there are three species. Morellia aenescens, Morellia hortorum and Morellia simplex. Especially Morellia aenescens and Morellia simplex are quite similar. The hindtibia of the male is strongly curved. This visible on the first photo. The females are on a photo similar. The thorax of Morellia aenescens and Morellia simplex is dark. In front of the thorax, the three white stripes of this fly are very vague. The slight bend in the middle of the vein M1 Morellia is very characteristic. Photo 22-8-2011.

.. .  Morellia hortorum.  Male. Genus Morellia.  Tribe Muscini. Subfamily Muscinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). It was approved as Morellia hortorum by connoisseurs. For me it is still a difficult species. Photos 12-4-2012.

..  Morellia hortorum, Morellia aenescens or Morellia simplex. Female. Genus Morellia. Family House flies (Muscidae). Polietes domitor is also similar but the vein M1 of this fly isn't bend at the end. Photo 23-8-2009.

Genus Musca.  
In the Netherlands we have: Face fly (Musca autumnalis), house fly (Musca domestica), Musca osiris and Musca tempestiva..
The best known are the face fly and the house fly. The differences between the species are small. 

.. .  Male. . Female.  Face fly, autumn house-fly. (Musca autumnalis). Genus Musca. Tribe Muscini. Subfamily Muscinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). Males and females differ. Females: Gray with 4 dark stripes on the thorax and with a grey-black pattern on the abdomen. Males: The thorazx and scutellum are darker. On the abdomen light brown spots. Autumn house-fly, but not only in autumn. In winter you can find them in houses where they will overwinter. In spring they become active again..  In summer cattle and horses don't like them, because they feed on manure juices. But thy also feed on plant sugars.  Two generations. Larvae in fresh cattle manure. Photos March 2012.

.. . .  Female. House fly (Musca domestica). Genus Musca. Tribe Muscini. Subfamily Muscinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). In 2013 I succeeded for the first time to take a picture of a housefly. It's less common than the face fly. Difference with autumn fly: The black part between the eyes of the female housefly is broader. There is more distance between the eyes of the housefly males and thus the black part between the eyes of the males is also broader. It can also be confused with the Lesser housefly (Fannia canicularis) which is from a different family and is described on my page "flies". The fly in this picture is darker, but they can be lighter gray. Probably originally from the southern Palearctic region, but now you can find the housefly like humans almost all over the world. Especially in the colder areas it needs our homes to survive the winter. The housefly is an omnivore and can therefore stay alive in our houses.  Photos 6-10-2013. German: Stubenfliege. French: La mouche domestique.

Genus Neomyia. 

.. . .  Neomyia cornicina. Genus Neomyia. Subfamily Muscinae. Genus Musca. Family House flies (Muscidae).  An other a shiny green housefly. You can recognize the neomyia on the shiny green top of the head. In the Netherlands there are the similar species Neomyia cornicina and Neomyia viridescens. Photos 24-11-2011, 4-10-2012, 19-10-2012, 28-10-2012.

Genus Polietes.   
In the Netherlands there are three species: Polietes domitor, Polietes lardaria en Polietes meridionalis. 

.. .  Polietes lardaria. Genus Polietes. Subfamily Muscinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  Black gray and white with a blue tint. Length 7.5-13 mm The larvae can be found in the manure.  April - November. Photos 28-9-2012, 3-10-2012.

..  Polietes meridionalis. Genus Polietes. Subfamily Muscinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  Black gray and white with a blue tint. Difference with Polietes lardaria: Yellow, gold instead of gray, white: Front spiraculum (breathing hole) the front part of the cheeks. Length 7.5-13 mm. The larvae can be found in the manure.  May - November. But 2014 I saw in February already a Polietes. Photos 6-6-2012.

Tribe Reinwardtiini.

Genus Muscina.

.. . . .  Muscina levida. Genus Muscina. Tribe Reinwardtiini. Subfamily Muscinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  Black antennae and black legs. On the scutellum a yellow brown spot. Other members of the family are M. pascuorum, M. prolapsa en M.stabulans. Length 6 - 11 mm. May - October. Photos 18-3-2009, 22-9-2010, 30-9-2012.

.. .   Muscina prolapsa. Genus Muscina. Tribe Reinwardtiini. Subfamily Muscinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  Antennea: black and red Legs: black. Photos 8-7-2009, 26-9-2012. In the wing of the Muscina prolapsa  the vein M1 has a sharp curve at the end. The vein of the wing of the similar M. pascuorum has no sharp curve.

Tribe Stomoxyini.

Genus Stomoxys 

.. .  Stablefly (Stomoxys calcitrans). Genus Stomoxys. Tribe Stomoxyini. Subfamily Muscinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). It resembles the common housefly, but it is a biting fly. It sucks blood from mammals and sometimes from people. Mostly from the legs. Another difference is that it is sitting with the head upwards, while a common housefly keeps its head low on a vertical surface. It has four dark stripes on the thorax. It keeps its wings wide, when it is sitting. You can find it oft near the stables. Hence the name.  The larvae live in manure and decaying organic matter. Length 5 - 8 mm.  April - October. Photos 29-8-2009.

Subfamily Mydaeinae.   

Genus Graphomya. 

.. .  Graphomya maculata, synonym Graphomya minor. Genus Graphomya. Subfamily Mydaeinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). It was thought, that there were two very similar different species. Now it is assumed that it's the same species. A beautiful fly. The colour is gray, to reddish brown. Photos 30-8-2009, 24-9-2011, 26-8-2012.

Genus Hebecnema.

.. . .  Hebecnema vespertina Familie Hebecnema. Subfamily Mydaeinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  A shiny dark brown fly.  There are three species in the Netherlands with different characteristics. This small fly is difficult to identify.     If the halteres brown / black: Hebecnema nigra If the halteres are yellow ..... With hairless eyes: Hebecnema vesper tina With hairy eyes: Hebecnema umbritica The halteres are yellow. The eyes hairless. So Hebecnema vesper tina. This information I have from Joke van Erkelens. (Thanks Joke) There were other features. But then it becomes very complicated. Photos: May 2009, 2010.

Genus Mydaea. 

.. .  Mydaea corni Genus Mydaea. Subfamily Mydaeinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). Other name: Mydaea scutellaris An entirely yellow orange scutellum. The abdomen are a mixture of gray, yellow, brown. Length: about 9 mm. Foto 17-10-2010.

Subfamily Phaoniinae. 

Tribe Phaoniini.

Genus Helina 

.. . Helina evecta. Genus Helina. Tribe Phaoniini. Subfamily Phaoniinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  Helina annosa. It's a springfly, but also found in autumn. The adults hibernate (Houses, barns). The family is somewhat similar to the Phaonia family. They also have the dark cross veins. The legs are quite dark. Photos March 2012.   These two photos: 25-9-2010 In autumn!!

.. . . .  Helina cf. confinis. Genus Helina. Tribe Phaoniini. Subfamily Phaoniinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). Not quite sure!!!!! Tibia 1 has a posterior seta and tibia 2 has 2-3 posterior seta.  H. confinis(female) has vague spots on the abdomen and the eyes are not hairy.  Because I can't see the hairs on the bactibia, H. confinis is not entirely sure. The differences of  Helina species are very small. Helina pertusa par example maybe would be possible . Thanks for the information Joke van Erkelens. Tibia: shin. Seta: bristle. Posterior: Coming after in order; following. Photos 6-7-2009.

.. . . Helina impuncta. Genus Helina. Tribe Phaoniini. Onderfamilie Phaoniinae.  Familie Echte Vliegen (Muscidae). This is not easy, for at the left it has 4 dorso centrals and at the right it has 3 dorso centrals. The fly has lost a hair!  Photos 7-7-2009, 6-10-2012.

.. Helina depuncta. Genus Helina. Tribe Phaoniini. Subfamily Phaoniinae. Family House flies (Muscidae).  Explanation of Joke van Erkelens: The combination of crossveins obscured yellow legs + 3 + dorso exchange can only with H.depuncta. (at least from the Dutch species.) H.impuncta + H. pertusa also have darkened the crossveins + yellow legs ... but both dorso Centrals 4. According to Joke, there are  more differences in characteristics between the flies, but that's very complicated. June - October. Photos 9-10-2012.

.. . Helina reversio. Genus Helina. Tribe Phaoniini. Subfamily Phaoniinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). Not quite certain! Dark spots on the abdomen.

.. . Helina setiventris. Genus Helina. Tribe Phaoniini. Subfamily Phaoniinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). Not quite certain!

Genus Phaonia.
Informaton about many species.

.. . . Phaonia angelicae. Genus Phaonia. Tribe Phaoniini. Subfamily Phaoniinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). Orange legs. And orange on the first part of the wings. Photos 24-8-2009.

.. . . Phaonia fuscata. Genus Phaonia. Tribe Phaoniini. Subfamily Phaoniinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). This phaonia looks like Phaonia tuguriorum, but it has longer legs and a narrower abdomen. The scutellum is grey. The legs are brown. Length 6 - 9 mm. The fly on the first photograph is blowing bubbles. It is often to be seen. Why they do it, is not entirely sure. A  theory is: It is as an aid to digestion. Photos 11-04-2012, 12-04-2012.

.. . Probably: Phaonia halterata. Genus Phaonia. Tribe Phaoniini. Subfamily Phaoniinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). A dark grey phaonia with dark halteres. Photos 9-10-2012.

.. . Phaonia palpata. Genus Phaonia. Tribe Phaoniini. Subfamily Phaoniinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). Photos 28-5-2010. Female 11-10-2012.

.. Phaonia rufiventris. Genus Phaonia. Tribe Phaoniini. Subfamily Phaoniinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). The thorax of the Phaonia rufiventris is for the most part is gray. The thorax is near the scutellum and along the side orange. The abdomen, scutellum and legs (except the lower part) are orange. Phaonia rufiventris is very similar to Phaonia subventa and Phaonia bitincta. Photos 28-9-2012.

.. . .   Phaonia serva. Genus Phaonia. Tribe Phaoniini. Subfamily Phaoniinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). On a kingcup, marsh marigold . Photos 23-4-2010.

.. . Phaonia subventa. Genus Phaonia. Tribe Phaoniini. Subfamily Phaoniinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). On the orange abdomen is a black mark. You can find it from March until it is freezing.  Phaonia subventa is very similar to Phaonia rufiventris and P. bitincta. The scutellum of these species is totally orange. Photos 20-4-2012, 20-3-2012.

.. . . Phaonia tuguriorum. Genus Phaonia. Tribe Phaoniini. Subfamily Phaoniinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). The cross veins of the wings are darkened. Recognizable by the reddish-brown legs. The lower part of the legs is dark. The abdomen is gray. The scutellum is reddish at the tip. Antenna segment 1 and 2 are brown. The third is black. Februari - December. Length  6 - 8 mm. Photos 17-02-2012, 20-02-2012.

.. . . Phaonia valida. Genus Phaonia. Tribe Phaoniini. Subfamily Phaoniinae. Family House flies (Muscidae). Phaonia valida looks like Phaonia Erran. Vein R4+5 in the wing runs into an arc at the end and this vein of P.errans is straighter. (The vein, which ends at the top of the wing.) The vein M1 has at the end a weak arc. In the wing of P. Erran M1 is straighter. Photos 3-7-2010, 30-9-2012.

I want to thank everyone, who has helped me (waarneming.nl) to identify. In particular, Joke van Erkelens, Robert Heemskerk, Mark van Veen, Gerard Pennard and Han Endt. 

 
Nederlands / Dutch                                                   

Subpage flies:  Tachinidae      Blow-flies (Calliphoridae)      House flies (Muscidae)      Soldierflies (Stratiomyidae)      Root-Maggot Flies (Anthomyiidae)      Small flies      Gnats                       

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