{{Short description|Various species of fly that feed on beached seaweed}}
[[File:Sanderling (Calidris alba) - geograph.org.uk - 936595.jpg|thumb|A sanderling (''Calidris alba'') feeding on a kelp fly]]
'''Kelp fly''' is one common name of species of flies in a number of families of "true flies" or Diptera. They generally feed on stranded and rotting seaweed in the wrack zone, particularly kelp. When conditions are suitable they are very numerous and may be ecologically important in the turnover of organic material on the coast.<ref>Griffiths C. L., Stenton-Dozey J. M. E., Koop K.,1983, Kelp wrack and energy flow through a sandy beach. Sandy beaches as ecosystems, A. McLachlan & T. Erasmus (eds.), W. Junk, The Hague,547–556</ref> In that role, they also may be an important item in the diet of beach-dwelling animals and birds.
The flies most generally referred to as kelp flies are the widely distributed Coelopidae, such as ''Coelopa pilipes''. In popular speech however, they are not clearly distinguished from other flies with similar feeding habits, such as the Heterocheilidae, the Helcomyzinae and sundry members of the Anthomyiidae.<ref name= "McAlpine">McAlpine, J. F. et al (eds) Manual of Nearctic Diptera. Monographs No. 27 & No. 28 Biosystematics Research Institute, Ottawa. Ontario Research Branch. Pub: Agriculture Canada Vol 1 1981 & Vol 2 1987</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Flies Category:Insect common names {{Schizophora-stub}}