Diptera, or true flies, are a widespread and beautiful group of insects. With over 150,000 described species and far more undescribed, Diptera include important pollinators, disease vectors, detritivores, and predators.
Field/Photo ID for Flies, commonly known as "the Fly Guide," is a collection of resources created by a variety of authors, compiled for identifying Diptera from photographs and specimens.
If you're looking to get your own photos identified, upload them to iNaturalist! Please make an effort to use our guides before tagging someone.
The project was established by Even Dankowicz in 2019 and is currently maintained by Zachary and Even Dankowicz. If you are interested in contributing to the Guide, please contact us!
For information about upcoming workshops, see the project journal on iNaturalist, or check out this page to see the most recent post!
You can find us on YouTube by searching "Field/Photo ID for Flies" or by clicking here!
On the left, you can watch the most recent video in our Fly Guide playlist of instructional recordings meant to help you use the resources on our site.
If you'd like to see a video done on a particular subject, please reach out to us!
On the right, you can find other resources created by associates for non-Dipteran taxa, such as wasps and damselflies.Â
If you're looking to gain experience recognizing flies or give back to the community, consider volunteering identifications on iNaturalist! Each mini-guide on this site contains an 'Identify' link on the left of the first slide, or you can start here.
Some major regional guides and catalogs available online:
Manual of Nearctic Diptera: Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3
Manual of Afrotropical Diptera
Catalog of the Diptera of the Australasian and Oceanian Regions
BugGuide - Diptera of USA/Canada
Also, check out Other Diptera Resources
Have any comments or mistakes to report? Most of these resources are works continuously being updated. Feel free to contact us with any questions, mistakes to report, or other messages!
Recommended citation: Dankowicz, Z. R. & Dankowicz, E. (2023). Field/Photo ID for Flies. Retrieved [Date] from https://sites.google.com/view/flyguide.