14 Types of Flies in Georgia (And How to Identify Each One)
November 11, 2026
Anyone who assumes every fly buzzing around a Georgia porch is just a housefly is in for a surprise. The state’s humid subtropical climate, extensive wetlands, and long growing season support a far wider range of true flies than most residents realize, from harmless pollinators to biting pests that can draw blood through a pair of jeans.
Georgia is home to 1,421 documented insect species according to the InsectIdentification.org database, and Diptera—the scientific order that includes all true flies—accounts for a meaningful share of that total. This guide walks through 14 types of flies in Georgia that homeowners, gardeners, and outdoor enthusiasts are most likely to run into, covering how to tell each one apart by size, color, wing pattern, and behavior.
1. Hover fly (Syrphid fly / flower fly)
Hover flies are the great impostors of the insect world. Most species have yellow-and-black striped abdomens that mimic bees and wasps, which is exactly why they are so often misidentified or feared for no reason. They often are overlooked or misidentified because of their tendency to mimic bees and wasps, even though they have no stinger and pose zero threat to people or pets.
Georgia’s most frequently encountered hover fly is Copestylum vesicularium, a short, stout species with a distinctive facial bump; Copestylum vesicularium (7.4–10.4 mm) and C. vittatum (8.1–8.7 mm) are the most common species encountered in Georgia. The family as a whole is enormous and ecologically important: with over 6,000 species world-wide and 812 in the United States and Canada, hover flies, also known as flower flies or syrphid flies, are a highly diverse, common, and charismatic family of insects which provide a broad diversity of ecosystem services including pollination, biological control, and decomposition that benefit humans. Georgia alone hosts an estimated 180 to 190 hover fly species, and in the eastern U.S., hover flies can be important for pollinating a variety of crops including carrots, apples, peaches, mangoes, canola, sweet peppers, onions, and strawberries. Readers interested in the broader pollinator picture can explore other beneficial garden insects that share similar habits.
Key Insight: If a “bee” hovers motionless in midair before darting sideways, it is almost certainly a hover fly. True bees and wasps rarely hover in place the way syrphid flies do.
2. Deer fly
Deer flies belong to the genus Chrysops, part of the same family as horse flies, but they are noticeably smaller and quicker. According to one Georgia pest control resource, deer flies develop in wet soil and aquatic-edge environments and are frequently noticed around wooded areas, lawns, and outdoor spaces in summer, and are biting flies known for their painful, sharp bites used by females to feed on blood. Only females bite, since only female deer flies bite, as they need blood meals to develop their eggs. Their wings carry a telltale clue: their wings often have dark bands or patterns that help distinguish them from other fly species.
Deer flies are relentless once they lock onto a target, circling a person’s head for minutes at a time before landing. Anyone comparing biting-fly pressure across the country may also want to see how insects in New York stack up, since deer flies are just as troublesome in wooded parts of the Northeast.
3. Crane fly
Crane flies are the harmless giants frequently mistaken for oversized mosquitoes. Despite the alarm they cause when one drifts into a living room on long, dangling legs, adult crane flies do not bite, sting, or feed on blood at all—many barely feed as adults, living only a few days to mate before dying.
The genus Tipula is the most familiar crane fly group in Georgia, though state insect records list several others as well, including species cataloged simply as Crane Fly – B. dispellens and Crane Fly – Lunatipula sp. Crane fly larvae, sometimes called “leatherjackets,” live in moist soil or shallow water and feed on decaying plant matter and roots. Homeowners who spot similar long-legged fliers in other states can compare notes with this guide to insects in Ohio, where crane flies are an equally common lawn visitor.
4. Cluster fly
Cluster flies are easy to confuse with houseflies at a glance, but their behavior gives them away. These flies are identified by their non-metallic gray appearance, slow, erratic flight, and tendency to cluster indoors when temperatures drop, with medium-sized flies having dark gray, non-metallic bodies. Unlike most household flies, their larvae develop in soil where they parasitize earthworms rather than garbage or carrion. That unusual life cycle explains why cluster flies show up in such large numbers in a single home: they are not breeding indoors, they are simply seeking shelter.
They are commonly noticed during fall and winter when they enter structures to overwinter, often appearing around windows, attics, and upper floors on warm, sunny days. The common cluster fly, Pollenia rudis, can gather by the hundreds in attic spaces of older homes with gaps in siding or trim. This overwintering habit is far from unique to Georgia—anyone who has dealt with a similar invasion up north can compare experiences with the insects covered in this Canadian insect guide, where cluster fly swarms are a well-known seasonal headache.
5. Black fly (buffalo/turkey gnat)
Black flies, family Simuliidae and genus Simulium, get their “buffalo gnat” nickname from a humped thorax that gives them a stocky, hunched profile. They breed in fast-moving, well-oxygenated streams and rivers, where larvae attach themselves to submerged rocks and vegetation using a sucker-like disc at the tail end.
Bites from black flies tend to itch and swell more than they hurt in the moment, a pattern consistent with how UGA entomologists describe insect bites generally: when insects bite, they often inject saliva to digest the tissue and aid in the feeding process, and the body’s reaction to the components of the saliva causes the itching, redness and swelling associated with these bites. Swarms peak in spring near flowing water and can be intense enough to drive people indoors. Black flies are notorious well beyond Georgia’s borders, too—readers curious how the pressure compares can look at biting-insect activity described in this overview of Amazon rainforest insects, where related black fly species transmit far more serious diseases.
6. Tiger bee fly
Few flies look stranger than the tiger bee fly. Its exotic, mottled brown-and-gold wings and fuzzy body make it look like something crossed between a bee and a mosquito, and given its coloring, the common Tiger Bee Fly can be mistaken for a mosquito, although this exotic-looking bug can give the impression that it is a bee due to its size and fuzzy body, when it is just a fly. Its scientific name, Xenox tigrinus, reflects that tiger-striped wing pattern. Despite the intimidating look, tiger bee flies are completely harmless to people. They spend their larval stage as parasites of carpenter bees: female Tiger Bee flies lay their fertilized eggs in the Carpenter Bees’ nest, where Carpenter Bee females typically drill perfectly round holes into wooden fence posts or beams to lay their own eggs.
Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources frames the tiger bee fly as an unsung pest-control ally, noting that many homeowners plagued with what they perceive is an arch nemesis do not realize they have a wild ally that works diligently throughout the warm months to control carpenter bees. Readers who want the full rundown on the state’s fly diversity can also check this companion guide to Georgia’s flies for additional species and photos.
Pro Tip: Spotting a tiger bee fly hovering near a wooden deck or fence post in late summer usually means carpenter bees are nesting nearby. Leave the fly alone—it is doing free pest control.
7. Soldier fly
Soldier flies, family Stratiomyidae, are often overlooked because they resemble small wasps at rest, with flattened bodies and folded, patterned wings. The best-known member of the family, the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), has become genuinely useful to people: its larvae break down manure, food scraps, and other organic waste with striking efficiency, which is why they show up in commercial composting operations and as a protein source in some livestock and pet feeds.
Adult soldier flies do not bite or sting and rarely linger long, since most species live only a few days as adults and focus on mating rather than feeding. Anyone interested in how insect larvae are used commercially may enjoy this broader look at insects kept and raised by people, which touches on similar larval-stage uses.
8. Long-legged fly
Long-legged flies, family Dolichopodidae, are among the smallest and easiest to overlook on this list, yet they are also some of the most visually striking once spotted up close. Many Georgia species, including those in the genus Condylostylus, have metallic green or bronze bodies that flash in direct sunlight as they dart across leaves.
These tiny predators hunt aphids, mites, and other small soft-bodied insects on plant foliage, making them a quiet ally in garden pest control. Their jerky, sideways movements on leaf surfaces are a reliable identification clue, since few other small flies move quite the same way. Gardeners cataloging the full range of Georgia’s garden fauna may also want to browse this guide to caterpillars found in Georgia, many of which share the same leaf surfaces these flies patrol.
9. Robber fly
Robber flies are the aerial predators of the fly world, built with long, tapered abdomens, spiny legs, and a dense mustache of bristles called a mystax that protects their face while subduing struggling prey. Georgia is home to a wide range of genera, including species logged as Robber Fly – Atomosia sp., Robber Fly – Diogmites spp., and Robber Fly – E. aestuans in state insect records. One of the largest and most recognizable is the giant robber fly, Promachus rufipes, sometimes nicknamed the “bee panther” for its habit of snatching bees and other flying insects directly out of the air.
Naturalist identification communities such as BugGuide.net regularly field questions about Georgia robber fly sightings, since the group offers identification, images, and information for exactly this kind of insect. Robber flies rarely bother people unless handled directly, though a defensive bite from a larger species can pinch. For a look at other ambush predators sharing Georgia’s yards and gardens, see this guide to spiders found in Georgia.
10. Fungus gnat
Fungus gnats are the tiny, dark, mosquito-shaped flies that seem to appear out of nowhere around overwatered houseplants. Adults in the genus Bradysia are weak fliers, rarely more than an eighth of an inch long, and are far more interested in damp potting soil than in people.
Larvae feed on fungi, algae, and decaying organic matter in the top layer of soil, though heavy infestations can also nibble on tender plant roots and stress seedlings. They do not bite humans or pets, making them a nuisance rather than a health concern. Letting soil dry out between waterings is usually enough to break the cycle. Readers dealing with similar indoor pest pressure elsewhere can compare notes with this rundown of insects common in Texas, where fungus gnats are just as familiar a houseplant problem.
11. Eye gnat
Eye gnats, tiny flies in the genus Hippelates, are drawn to the moisture around human and animal eyes, noses, and mouths rather than blood. They do not bite in the way mosquitoes or black flies do, but their persistent swarming around the face is enough to drive people indoors during peak activity, which tends to run from late summer into early fall across south Georgia’s sandy coastal plain.
The bigger concern with eye gnats is mechanical disease transmission: because they move between eyes, they can spread bacteria linked to conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, in areas where activity is heavy. General insect-bite reaction research from Georgia forestry sources notes that systemic reactions are rare but are just as life threatening as those caused by stinging insects, though the most common reactions are wheals, swelling, and itching—a useful reminder that even non-biting insects can trigger irritation worth monitoring.
Important Note: This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. Anyone experiencing persistent eye redness, swelling, or discharge after exposure to eye gnats should consult a healthcare provider.
12. Stable fly
Stable flies look almost identical to houseflies at first glance, which makes them one of the most misidentified biters on this list. The difference becomes obvious the moment one lands, since they look similar to house flies, but stable flies have a pointed mouthpart used to suck blood, usually targeting ankles and lower legs. Mainly found in late summer and early fall, these biting flies primarily feed on livestock, though they will readily bite people, pets, and horses when animal hosts are scarce. Scientifically known as Stomoxys calcitrans, they are close relatives of deer flies despite their housefly-like appearance.
The table below summarizes how Georgia’s main biting flies compare, since the overlap in size and season is a common source of confusion.
| Common Name | Typical Size | Peak Season in Georgia | Primary Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Fly | Small to medium (10–13 mm) | Late spring–summer | Wooded areas, wetlands |
| Horse Fly | Large (14–19 mm) | Summer | Pastures, wetlands, coastal plain |
| Black Fly | Very small (1–5 mm) | Spring | Fast-flowing streams and rivers |
| Stable Fly | Housefly-sized (5–7 mm) | Late summer–fall | Livestock areas, mulch, hay |
13. Horse fly
Horse flies are the heavyweights of Georgia’s biting flies, large enough that many people notice the buzzing before they ever feel the bite. As one UGA Extension resource puts it, deer and horse flies are strong fliers and a serious nuisance of warm-blooded animals and people. Identification is straightforward once the basics are known: horse flies are large, brown or black in color, with large colorful eyes and biting, sword-like piercing/sucking mouthparts, while their close cousins the deer flies run smaller and darker. Only females bite, using blood as a protein source to develop eggs, while males stick to nectar and plant fluids.
Horse fly larvae develop in moist soil near ponds, marshes, and slow-moving water, and adults can travel surprising distances from those breeding sites in search of a host. Interestingly, this fly’s bulky profile has made it a favorite subject for anglers imitating insect activity near water; anyone curious about that crossover can browse this collection of fly-fishing patterns inspired by real insects like the horse fly.
14. Predaceous midge
Predaceous midges belong to the family Ceratopogonidae, the same family that includes the notorious biting midges known as “no-see-ums.” The distinction matters: most predaceous midge species, including several in the genus Bezzia, hunt other tiny insects rather than biting people or livestock, making them beneficial rather than a nuisance. Their blood-feeding relatives are a different story. Since they rarely grow larger than 1/32 of an inch long, biting midges, also called no-see-ums, easily get into houses through window and door screens, which is why they cause disproportionate irritation for their size.
Predaceous midges themselves are so small and understudied that most people never realize they exist, let alone that they are quietly preying on gnats, small flies, and other midges around wetland edges and slow-moving water throughout the state.
Pro Tip: If a tiny midge is biting, it is almost certainly not a predaceous midge. True predaceous species target other insects, not skin.
Georgia’s fly population is far more varied than the swat-first-ask-questions-later reputation flies tend to carry. From pollinating hover flies to blood-feeding horse flies and quietly beneficial predators like the long-legged fly, each species covered here fills a distinct ecological role, whether that means pollinating crops, breaking down organic waste, or keeping other insect populations in check. Learning to tell them apart takes little more than a close look at size, wing pattern, and behavior—and it often turns an annoying backyard encounter into a genuinely interesting one.