Ptychoptera contaminata
Tipula rufina
Tipula vittata
Geocrypta galii (gall) on Fen Bedstraw
This family contains the larger craneflies. There are 87 British species known to date, and a good variety has been identified in the village so far, although surely still more to find.
Nephrotoma appendiculata
Nephrotoma cornicina
Nephrotoma crocata
Nephrotoma flavescens
Nephrotoma quadrifaria
Tipula confusa
Tipula fulvipennis
Tipula lateralis
Tipula livida
Tipula lunata
Tipula maxima
Tipula obsoleta
Tipula oleracea
Tipula pabulina
Tipula pagana
Tipula paludosa
Tipula rufina
Tipula signata
Tipula staegeri
Tipula unca
Tipula varipennis
Tipula vernalis
Tipula vittata
These are the 'hairy-eyed craneflies', with 20 known British species but just one identified in the village so far.
Tricyphona immaculata
A large family of over 200 smaller craneflies. Surely lots more species still to find around the village.
Cheilotrichia cinerascens
Dicranomyia chorea
Dicranomyia modesta
Dicranophragma adjunctum
Ellipteroides lateralis
Epiphragma ocellare
Erioconopa trivialis
Erioptera lutea
Euphylidorea lineola
Ilisia maculata
Limonia nigropunctata
Limonia nubeculosa
Limonia phragmitidis
Molophilus obscurus
Ormosia lineata
Pseudolimnophila sepium
Rhipidia maculata
A family of 18 species, with the St Mark's Fly as the largest and best known species. Males and females differ significantly in appearance. Several more species are likely to be present.
Bibio anglicus
Bibio clavipes
Bibio hortulanus
Bibio johannis
Bibio marci (St Mark's Fly)
Bibio varipes
Dilophus febrilis
Dilophus femoratus
Large family of over 250 small flies, with just one distinctive species identified so far.
Sciara hemerobioides
A huge family of over 650 species of 'gall midges', so known as their larvae live in galls - i.e. they affect plant tissue causing abnormal growth. Many species are more easily identified (or certainly detected) via these galls.
Contarinia acerplicans
Dasineura affinis
Dasineura auritae
Dasineura fraxini
Dasineura tiliae
Dasineura ulmaria
Geocrypta galii
Hartigiola annulipes
Iteomyia major
Jaapiella veronicae
Rabdophaga strobilina
Wachtliella rosarum
A small family of winter midges, superficially like small craneflies. Can be very common, including at light, over winter months.
Trichocera annulata
Trichocera hiemalis
Trichocera major
Trichocera regelationis
A small family of only four 'window midges'.
Sylvicola fenestralis
Sylvicola punctatus
About 50 species of small flies.
Scatopse notata
Sometimes called Phantom Craneflies, although not closely related to the true cranefly families. Striking general appearance.
Ptychoptera albimana - most frequent of the genus in the village
Ptychoptera contaminata - several records
Ptychoptera lacustris - several records
The true mosquitoes, of which we have 35 species in Britain. Have only confirmed two species in the village so far, both from my bedroom (and elsewhere).
Culex pipiens
Culiseta annulata
Huge family of over 600 'non-biting midges', of which I've only identified a single species to date. Must try much harder!
Psectrotanypus varius
Odontomyia argentata
Neoitamus cyanurus
Dioctria rufipes
Bombylius major
Snipeflies, a small family of 15 species of relatively large and distinctive flies.
Chrysopilus asiliformis (Little Snipefly)
Chrysopilus cristatus (Black Snipefly)
Rhagio lineola (Small Fleck-winged Snipefly)
Rhagio scolopaceus (Downlooker Snipefly)
Rhagio tringarius (Marsh Snipefly)
The horseflies, about 30 species of large (sometimes very large) flies.
Chrysops caecutiens (Splayed Deerfly)
Chrysops relictus (Twin-lobed Deerfly)
Haematopota pluvialis (Notch-horned Cleg)
Hybomitra bimaculata (Hairy-legged Horsefly)
Hybomitra distinguenda (Bright Horsefly)
Tabanus bromius (Band-eyed Brown Horsefly)
Small family of just three species.
Solva marginata (Drab Wood-soldierfly)
The soldierflies, about 50 species, many of which are quite large and colourful; many are largely restricted to wetlands.
Beris chalybata (Murky-legged Black Legionnaire)
Beris clavipes (Scarce Orange Legionnaire)
Beris fuscipes (Short-horned Black Legionnaire) - perhaps the first for East Anglia was found on the common in 2021
Beris geniculata (Long-horned Black Legionnaire)
Beris morrisii (Yellow-legged Black Legionnaire)
Beris vallata (Common Orange Legionnaire)
Chloromyia formosa (Broad Centurion)
Chorisops nagatomii (Bright Four-spined Legionnaire)
Chorisops tibialis (Dull Four-spined Legionnaire)
Microchrysa cyaneiventris (Black Gem)
Microchrysa flavicornis (Green Gem)
Microchrysa polita (Black-horned Gem)
Nemotelus nigrinus (All-black Snout)
Nemotelus pantherinus (Fen Snout)
Odontomyia argentata (Silver Colonel)
Odontomyia tigrina (Black Colonel)
Oplodontha viridula (Common Green Colonel)
Oxycera nigricornis (Delicate Soldier)
Oxycera rara (Four-barred Major)
Oxycera trilineata (Three-lined Soldier)
Pachygaster atra (Dark-winged Black)
Pachygaster leachii (Yellow-legged Black)
Sargus bipunctatus (Twin-spot Centurion)
Sargus flavipes (Yellow-legged Centurion)
Sargus iridatus (Iridescent Centurion)
Bee-flies, just ten British species of which only the one recorded species is likely to be present.
Bombylius major (Dark-edged Bee-fly)
Scenopinus fenestralis (House Windowfly)
Stiletto-flies, a small family of just 14 species.
Thereva nobilitata (Common Stiletto)
Robberflies, a small group of often quite large and spectacular flies, with about 30 British species.
Dioctria atricapilla (Violet Black-legged Robberfly)
Dioctria baumhaueri (Stripe-legged Robberfly)
Dioctria rufipes (Common Red-legged Robberfly)
Leptogaster cylindrica (Striped Slender Robberfly)
Leptogaster guttiventris (Dashed Slender Robberfly)
Machimus atricapillus (Kite-tailed Robberfly)
Neoitamus cyanurus (Common Awl Robberfly)
Family of about 200 flies, not generally well recorded. Only a few identified to date, must be many more.
Empis livida
Empis lutea
Empis scutellata
Empis stercorea
Empis tessellata
Empis trigramma
Hilara maura
Rhamphomyia atra
Rhamphomyia crassirostris
Rhamphomyia pilifer
Rhamphomyia subcinerascens
Rhamphomya sulcatella
Hybos femoratus
Stilpon graminum
Tachypeza nubila
Even larger family of 300 species, only two identified to date.
Campsicnemus scambus
Chrysotus blepharosceles
Dolichopus ungulatus
Poecilobothrus nobilitatus
Sciapus platypterus
Small family of about 30 'flat-footed flies'. Just the one identified so far.
Polyporivora picta
Spiniphora bergenstammi
Triphleba lugubris
Spear-winged flies, just seven British species known.
Lonchoptera bifurcata
Lonchoptera lutea
Criorhina berberina
Epistrophe eligans
Eristalis pertinax
Helophilus pendulus
Leucozona lucorum
Myathropa florea
Volucella inflata
Volucella zonaria
These are the hoverflies, one of the better known groups. For some reason, hoverflies are viewed in a more positive light than most other flies by the public. There are over 250 British species, and many can be identified in the field, although lots do still require capture and closer examination. I've been looking at hoverflies for many decades and so the list below is quite long (81 at time of writing), but I suspect there are still numerous other species in the village that I've overlooked thus far.
Baccha elongata - very long thin species, noted widely
Brachyopa scutellaris
Brachypalpoides lentus
Cheilosia albipila
Cheilosia albitarsis - Stubbs Green and the Common
Cheilosia bergenstammi - several times in garden, plus elsewhere
Cheilosia fraterna - only noted once, on Common in 2013
Cheilosia grossa
Cheilosia illustrata
Cheilosia impressa
Cheilosia pagana
Cheilosia proxima
Cheilosia urbana
Cheilosia variabilis
Cheilosia vernalis
Chrysogaster solstitialis
Chrysotoxum bicinctum
Chrysotoxum festivum
Chrysotoxum verralli
Criorhina berberina
Dasysyrphus albostriatus
Epistrophe eligans
Episyrphus balteatus
Eristalinus sepulchralis
Eristalis arbustorum
Eristalis interruptus
Eristalis intricarius
Eristalis pertinax
Eristalis tenax
Eumerus funeralis
Eumerus ornatus
Eumerus strigatus
Eupeodes corollae
Eupeodes latifasciatus
Eupeodes luniger
Ferdinandea cuprea
Helophilus hybridus
Helophilus pendulus
Lejogaster metallina
Leucozona lucorum
Melangyna labiatarum
Melanogaster hirtella
Melanostoma mellinum
Melanostoma scalare
Meliscaeva auricollis
Merodon equestris
Myathropa florea
Neoascia meticulosa
Neoascia podagrica
Neoascia tenur
Orthonevra brevicornis
Orthonevra nobilis
Paragus haemorrhous
Parhelophilus frutetorum
Parhelophilus versicolor
Pipiza austriaca
Pipiza noctiluca
Pipizella viduata
Platycheirus albimanus
Platycheirus ambiguus
Platycheirus angustatus
Platycheirus clypeatus
Platycheirus granditarsus
Platycheirus manicatus
Platycheirus peltatus
Platycheirus rosarum
Platycheirus scutatus
Rhingia campestris
Riponnensia splendens
Scaeva pyrastri
Sericomyia silentis
Sphaerophoria scripta
Sphaerophoria taeniata
Sphegina clunipes
Sphegina elegans
Syritta pipiens
Syrphus ribesii
Syrphus torvus
Syrphus vitripennis
Tropidia scita
Volucella bombylans
Volucella inanis
Volucella inflata
Volucella pellucens
Volucella zonaria
Xanthogramma pedissequum
Xylota abiens
Xylota segnis
Xylota sylvarum
Conops quadrifasciatus
Myopa tessellatipennis
Euleia heraclei
Conops quadrifasciatus
Leopoldius signatus
Myopa tessellatipennis
Physocephala rufipes
Sicus ferrugineus
Thecophora atra
Palloptera muliebris
Palloptera scutellata
Palloptera umbellatarum
Platystoma seminationis
Rivellia syngenesiae
Anomoia purmunda
Chaetorellia jaceae
Chaetostomella cylindrica
Euleia heraclei
Tephritis bardanae
Tephritis formosa
Tephritis neesii
Terellia tussilaginis
Trypeta artemisiae
Urophora cardui
Urophora jaceana
Urophora solstitialis
Urophora quadrifasciata
Otites guttatus
Physiphora alceae
Neria cibaria
Loxocera aristata
Psila merdaria
Neuroctena anilis
Sepsis fulgens
Sepsis violacea
Coremacera marginata
Elgiva solicita
Euthycera fumigata
Hydromya dorsalis
Ilione albiseta
Limnia paludicola
Limnia unguicornis
Pherbellia cinerella
Pherbellia schoenherri
Pherbina coryleti
Sepedon sphegea
Tetanocera hyalipennis
Heteromyza oculata
Heteromyza rotundicornis
Suillia pallida
Suillia variegata
Tephrochlamys rufiventris
Calliopum aeneum
Calliopum tuberculosum
Meiosimyza rorida
Minettia inusta
Peplomyza litura
Sapromyza apicalis
Agromyza alnivora
Agromyza idaeiana
Agromyza myosotidis
Agromyza nana
Agromyza reptans
Cerodontha iridis
Liriomyza amoena
Phytomyza chaerophylli
Phytomyza hellebori
Phytomyza ilicis
Phytomyza obscurella
Phytomyza ranunculi
Phytomyza ranunculivora
Geomyza tripunctata
Opomyza florum
Opomyza germinationis
Opomyza punctata
Limnellia fallax
Parydra coarctata
Cacoxenus indagator
Drosophila suzukii
Pollenia sp.
Eudasyphora cyanella
Mesembrina meridiana
Gymnocheta viridis
Louse-flies, which are parasites of birds and mammals. About 16 British species, with probably a number of other species present in the village.
Lipoptena cervi  - parasitic on deer, noted in 2023
Ornithomya avicularia
Crataerina hirundinis - a parasite of House Martins, found on a wall under the nests of this species a couple of times.
A large family of about 250 species, for which identification is very difficult. I haven't really made any progress with these to date but presumably there are many in the village.
Botanophila fugax
Botanophila striolata
Egle ciliata
Hydrophoria lancifer
Pegomya laticornis - the larvae of these species mine the leaves of burdock and have been found along Naidens Lane. The mines of another species of this genus have been found in sugar beet, but apparently need rearing to adult before they can be reliably identified.
About 60 species of 'lesser house flies', only one identified to date but many others must be present too
Fannia lustrator - specimens identified in 2013 and 2020
Fannia scalaris
A major family of about 300 species including the 'House Fly' but many others besides. Have only scratched the surface really, and lots more to discover.
Eudasyphora cyanella - a large greenbottle lookalike, noted three times but probably frequently overlooked.
Graphomya maculata - a well marked fly, confirmed a few times and suspected (without keying) more frequently.
Hebecnema umbratica
Hebecnema vespertina - keyed from the garden in 2020
Helina evecta - identified twice
Helina impuncta - identified once
Hydrotaea cyrtoneurina - keyed from the garden in 2020
Lispocephala alma
Mesembrina meridiana (Noon Fly) - a distinctive fly, readily identified in the field and frequently observed
Musca autumnalis - identified from the house several times
Musca domestica - the common 'House Fly', but as autumnalis also occurs, flies can't be assumed to be this without careful checking.
Neomyia cornicina
Phaonia angelicae - keyed once in 2020
Phaonia errans - keyed three times in 2020
Phaonia subventa - keyed five times
Phaonia tuguriorum - keyed once in 2019
Phaonia valida - keyed once in 2020
Potamia littoralis
A small family of about 60 species, often referred to as 'dung flies' although not all species are dung feeders (the commonest one definitely is though). Doubtless many overlooked species.
Cleigastra apicalis
Norellia spinipes
Scathophaga furcata - regularly identified between December and March
Scathophaga stercoraria (Yellow Dung Fly) - a very familiar species on cow dung
Spaziphora hydromyzina - keyed once in 2015
These are the 'blow flies', including the most familiar bluebottles and greenbottles. This is quite a small family, with only 30 British species. Careful searching would probably turn up about half of these around the village, but to date I've only pinned down six.
Calliphora vicina - the most common bluebottle around houses and gardens, abundant.
Calliphora vomitoria - identified once in the village, presumably widespread if I looked harder.
Lucilia caesar - identified a few times, common in human situations.
Lucilia sericata - identified a few times, more associated with countryside.
Melinda gentilis - a small bluebottle lookalike whose larvae parasites snails, recorded once in 2013
Melinda viridicyanea - another snail parasitising small bluebottle, recorded in 2015 along Naidens Lane.
The 'cluster flies', previously classified within the Calliphoridae. Several common species, but needing microscopic examination to tell apart. A few more species are likely to be present also. Many are parasites of earthworms.
Pollenia amentaria (Black-bellied Clusterfly) - identified once
Pollenia angustigena (Narrow-cheeked Clusterfly) - the most frequently identified, noted 11 times so far
Pollenia pediculata (Tufted Clusterfly) - identified twice
Pollenia rudis (Awkward Clusterfly) - identified three times
Rhinophora lepida (Pouting Woodlouse-fly)
The 'flesh-flies', over 60 British species, many of which are in the large genus Sarcophaga which all have a very similar appearance and need very close examination. Have only just started to look at these, and lots of other species will be present.
Brachicoma devia - keyed in 2020
Sarcophaga carnaria - keyed in 2020
Sarcophaga nigriventris - keyed in 2020
Sarcophaga subvicina - keyed in 2020
Sarcophaga vagans
Sarcophaga variegata - keyed in 2020
Tachinids are parasitic flies. There are over 250 British species and doubtless lots more still to find in Shotesham.
Athrycia trepida
Cistogaster globosa
Cyzenis albicans - a parasite of the Winter Moth caterpillar, and doubtless very common - several keyed in spring 2020
Dexia rustica - keyed on the common in 2020
Dufouria chalybeata - keyed from the garden in 2020
Eriothrix rufomaculata - the most frequently identified species so far, parasitising moth larvae
Gymnocheta viridis - a large greenbottle lookalike, found in 2020 by the Little Wood
Lydella stabulans - two found on Hogweed in 2020
Lypha dubia
Macquartia grisea - identified a couple of times coming to the garden moth trap
Phryxe nemea
Siphona geniculata - keyed once in 2020
Tachina fera - a large fly, identifiable in the field with practice