West Virginia Moth Flies

Family Psychodidae

These tiny, furry flies resemble small moths, and like their namesakes they are mainly active at night. They are not robust fliers. The antennae are longer than the head, "and sometimes longer than the body" (Scudder and Cannings, 2006). The antennae have have 12 to 16 segments, and have cup-shaped whorls of setae.

Adults are most common in dark, damp areas, including for example mossy seeps. One genus, called Sand Flies, bite humans and can transmit disease. Fortunately the Sand Flies do not venture as far north as West Virginia.

Moth flies are easy to identify to family, but may be challenging to identify to species.

Drain Flies

Other species