window fly

insect

Also known as: Scenopinidae

Written and fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

History

window fly, (family Scenopinidae), any of a relatively rare group of black flies (order Diptera) that are a little smaller than the housefly. The adults are often seen on windows, and larvae of most species live in decaying wood or fungi, although those of Scenopinus fenestralis feed on carpet beetle larvae in rugs. Most are parasitic, feeding on other insects.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kara Rogers.

window fly

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