Lonchoptera bifurcata

Description

3-4mm. Body colour variable, from pale yellow to dark brown. Legs are pale. As with other species in the family, the wings are long and thin giving them their common name of 'Spear-winged Flies'.

See ID guidance below for the specific features seen in this species.

Similar Species

Other Lonchoptera species.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)
  • Anteroventral bristles on the mid tibia in the apical half
  • The bristles on vein r1 are all of similar size
  • The front tibia with three upper bristles
  • The vertical bristles between the eyes and the postocular bristles are largely pale
  • Male – vein a ends before the fork in vein m
Habitat

Damp grassland.

When to see it

April to October but adults overwinter in Ivy and evergreen vegetation.

UK Status

Common and widespread.

VC55 Status

Common and widespread.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
insect - true fly (Diptera)
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Lonchopteridae
Records on NatureSpot:
5
First record:
20/12/2023 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
07/03/2025 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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