Infraorders[2] The Nematocera (the name meaning "thread-horns") are a suborder of elongated flies with thin, segmented antennae and mostly aquatic larvae.

The larvae of most families of Nematocera are aquatic, either free-swimming, rock-dwelling, plant-dwelling, or luticolous.

Some families however, are not aquatic; for instance the Tipulidae tend to be soil-dwelling and the Mycetophilidae feed on fungi such as mushrooms.

Unlike most of the Brachycera, the larvae of Nematocera have distinct heads with mouthparts that may be modified for filter feeding or chewing, depending on their lifestyles.

The bodies and legs of most adult Nematocera are elongated, and many species have relatively long abdomens.