Anisopodidae - Wood gnats

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Craneflies, Gnats & Midges

True flies (order Diptera) are an immense group with over 100,000 known species. They all have their hind pair of wings reduced to pin-shaped structures called halteres which act as gyroscopes to maintain balance in flight. Most feed on liquids, including nectar and blood.

The Dipterist's Forum offers a huge range of support for those interested in this group.

This group includes fly species that are in the dipteran sub-order Nematocera - the most ancient of the three fly sub-orders meaning they were the first to evolve. Fly species in these families all typically have reduced wing venation or wing veins that radiate to the margin and lack a closed anal cell. They are mainly lightly-built flies with long legs and long antennae.

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Anisopodidae - Wood gnats

Mostly small, slim flies often found in moist habitats such as woodland. There is only one UK genus in this family - Sylvicola, of which there are five species.

Mike Hackston key

Online key to Sylvicola (note this includes species not known in the UK)