Lonchopteridae

Lonchoptera lutea

The lance flies ( Lonchopteridae ) are a family of two-winged flies (Diptera ). Within these they are assigned to the flies ( Brachycera ). Worldwide there are about 45 species of these flies known, of which only nine in Germany. The flies are usually small and can reach heights between two and four millimeters.

The flies are quite leggy and live mainly on damp forest floor and edges of bodies of water. They love to be on the undersides of leaves and are good runners. The larvae are built assel shaped and flat. They live on the ground, usually in the scrim between the leaves and feed on fungal threads ( hyphae ), algal cells, pollen and humus particles. Also in the manure they are encountered ( coprophagia ). The doll is also developing in the soil.