Moth Flies

Psychodinae

Moth flies are tiny insects that look like little moths with fuzzy wings. They love to fly around in the dark and are often found near water. They are harmless and enjoy damp places.

Lebensraum: Wetlands

Aussehen

The Moth Flies have tiny, fuzzy bodies and distinctly heart-shaped wings covered in scales, giving them a moth-like appearance. They are typically dark grey or brown, often found near moisture, and move with a characteristic jerky flight.

ReichAnimaliaStammArthropodaKlasseInsectaOrdnungDipteraFamiliePsychodidae

Moth Flies

Kategorie

Insekten

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Despite their name and fuzzy look, they are true flies, not moths!

Moth flies can breed in even tiny puddles, needing very little water!

Some species of moth flies can spread bacteria if they land on food!

Their larvae are sometimes called "drain worms" because of where they live!

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Moth Flies can survive damp environments because of special water-repellent hairs that cover their bodies.

Moth Flies' larvae can break down decaying organic matter, helping to clean up the environment's waste.

Moth Flies' larvae can survive in very low-oxygen water, helping them thrive in drains and sewers.

Maße und Details

Flügelspannweite: 4-10 mm
Größe: 2-5 mm
Lebenserwartung: 7-14 Tage
Fluggeschwindigkeit: 1 km/h
Anzahl der Beine: 6

Ernährung und Fütterung

Adults feed on sugary liquids, while larvae eat decaying organic matter found in damp places.

Altersunterschiede: Larvae eat decaying organic matter; adults sip sugary liquids like nectar or sap.

Hauptnahrung

Decaying plants
Algae
Fungi
Bacteria
Sludge

Nahrungssuche

Foraging

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

eats

Bacillus subtilis

larvae consume bacteria in biofilm for food.

eaten by

Bullfrog

Rana catesbeiana

adult flies are a food source for various amphibians.

shelters

Humans

Homo sapiens

often find homes in our plumbing systems and damp areas.

Merkmale

Pelzig

Pelzig beschreibt Tiere, die eine dichte Schicht aus weichen Haaren oder Fell besitzen.

Sozial

Soziale Tiere leben in organisierten Gruppen und kooperieren, um ihr Überleben zu sichern, beispielsweise bei der Nahrungssuche, Verteidigung und Aufzucht der Jungen.

Feuchtgebiet

Dieses Lebensraummerkmal kennzeichnet Arten, die in Feuchtgebieten vorkommen. Dies sind Landflächen, die dauerhaft oder saisonal mit Wasser gesättigt sind, darunter Marschland, Sümpfe und Moore.