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dark-winged fungus gnats

(Family Sciaridae)

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Overview • Description • Distribution • Taxonomy

Overview

dark-winged fungus gnat (Family Sciaridae)

Photo by Alfredo Colon

Sciaridae is a family of small flies known as dark-winged fungus gnats. The family is little studied due to the small size of its members. There are about 2,500 described species in 92 genera worldwide, but there are an estimated 20,000 species yet to be described. There are about 170 species in 25 genera in North America north of Mexico. There are records of at least 5 species in 5 genera in Minnesota, and there are many more collected but not yet unidentified species at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in Anoka County.


	Most adults are found from late May through September in moist shady places, including forests, swamps, and meadows. Some species have adapted to extreme environments, including mountains, islands in the subarctic region, and deserts. Adults are short-lived. They mate, lay eggs, and die in about five days. The larvae feed on fungi, decaying vegetation, or plant roots. They are commonly brought indoors in plant pots. Some species are pests in herb farms and mushroom houses.


	Description
	Dark-winged fungus gnats are small to very small, slender, soft-bodied, mosquito-like flies. They range in size from 1⁄32″to 7⁄16″ (1 to 11 mm) in length, but most are less than 3⁄16″ (5 mm) in length. There are two large compound eyes on the sides of the head and three small simple eyes (ocelli) in a triangle on top of the head. The compound eyes meet above the antennae bases. The antennae are relatively long (for a fly) and have six or more segments. The legs are relatively long. There is a very short cross vein at the wing base but there are no other cross veins. The R₁ vein is short and the R₅ vein is long. The M vein has a fork with a long stem, and the Cu_1a vein has a fork with a short stem. According to BugGuide.net, adults cannot be identified to species short of mounting a male specimen on a slide, applying a chemical, and viewing it under a microscope. The larvae are slender, white except for a black head, semi-transparent, and legless.


	Distribution
			Sources 24, 27, 29, 30, 82, 83.
	4/20/2023


	Taxonomy
	Order	Diptera (flies)
	Suborder	Nematocera
	Infraorder	Bibionomorpha (gnats and allies)
	Superfamily	Sciaroidea (fungus gnats and gall midges)

	Subordinate Taxa
	Genus Aerumnosa Genus Allopnyxia Genus Angustosciara Genus Aniarella Genus Apelmocreagris Genus Bradysia (indoor soil gnats) Genus Bradysiopsis Genus Camptochaeta Genus Chaetosciara Genus Claustropyga Genus Corynoptera Genus Cosmosciara Genus Cratyna Genus Ctenosciara Genus Dichopygina Genus Dolichosciara Genus Epidapus Genus Eugnoriste Genus Euricrium Genus Eurysciara Genus Heterotricha Genus Hyperlasion Genus Keilbachia Genus Leptosciarella Genus Lycoriella Genus Merianina Genus Moehnia Genus Neophnyxia Genus Neozygoneura Genus Odontosciara Genus Parapnyxia Genus Peyerimhoffia Genus Phytosciara Genus Plastosciara Genus Pnyxia Genus Pnyxiopalpus Genus Pnyxiopsis Genus Prosciara Genus Pseudolycoriella Genus Pseudosciara Genus Pseudozygomma Genus Qisciara Genus Rhynchosciara Genus Scatopsciara Genus Schwenckfeldina Genus Sciara Genus Sciarotricha Genus Scythropochroa Genus Spinopygina Genus Starkomyia Genus Tergosciara Genus Trichodapus Genus Trichosia Genus Xylosciara Genus Zygoneura

	Synonyms


	Common Names
	dark-winged fungus gnats

Glossary

Midge

A small fly, somewhat resembling a mosquito, in one of several families in the suborder Nematocera.

Ocellus

Simple eye; an eye with a single lens. Plural: ocelli.


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	Alfredo Colon







	MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

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	Slideshows


	Diptera/Sciaridae Christophe Quintin




	Sciaridae Jesus Tizon

	About Orden Diptera/Suborden Nematocera/Infraorden Bibionomorpha/Superfamilia Sciaroidea/Familia Sciaridae



	Sciaridae Rui Andrade

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	Other Videos


	Fungus Gnat Larvae (Sciaridae) Swarming Behavior Carl Barrentine

	About Jun 23, 2011 These larvae were climbing the trunk of a Basswood Tree (up is to the left in this clip). Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (23 June 2011). Thank you to Charley Eiseman (@Bugguide.net) for identifying these specimens! Go here to learn more about this family:http://bugguide.net/node/view/7014

Camcorder


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Alfredo Colon 8/3/2022	Location 3: Albany, NY



Alfredo Colon 8/2/2022	Location 3: Albany, NY



Alfredo Colon 6/4/2021	Location: Woodbury, MN



Alfredo Colon 8/16 to 8/18/2019	Location: Slinger, Wisconsin



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