| Psychodidae Temporal range:
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|---|---|
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| Male Clogmia albipunctata. A moth-like dense coat of small hairs gives rise to the term "moth fly". | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Suborder: | Nematocera |
| Infraorder: | Psychodomorpha |
| Superfamily: | Psychodoidea |
| Family: | Psychodidae Newman, 1834[1] |
| Synonyms | |
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Phlebotomidae | |
Psychodidae, also called drain flies, sink flies, filter flies,[2] sewer flies, or sewer gnats, is a family of true flies. Some genera have short, hairy bodies and wings, giving them a "furry" moth-like appearance, hence one of their common names, moth flies.[2] Members of the sub-family Phlebotominae, which are hematophagous (feed on blood), may be called sand flies in some countries, although this term is also used for other unrelated flies.
There are more than 2,600 described species worldwide, most of them native to the humid tropics. This makes them one of the most diverse families of their order.[3] Drain flies sometimes inhabit plumbing drains and sewage systems, where they are harmless, but may be a persistent annoyance.[4]
- ^ Newman, E. (1834). "Attempted division of British insects into natural orders". The Entomological Magazine. 2: 379–431. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Moth Flies in the Home (Department of Entomology)". Department of Entomology (Penn State University).
- ^ Quate LW, Vockeroth JR. Psychodidae. In: McAlpine JF, Peterson BV, Shewell GE, Teskey HJ, Vockeroth JR, Wood DM, eds. Manual of Nearctic Diptera. Vol. 1. Ottawa: Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Monograph 27; 1981:293–300.
- ^ Javier Oscoz; David Galicia; Rafael Miranda (27 June 2011). Identification Guide of Freshwater Macroinvertebrates of Spain. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 138. ISBN 978-94-007-1554-7.