snow fly

noun

variants or snow insect

1

: any of several minute insects that constitute a genus (Boreus) of the order Mecoptera and sometimes appear on the snow in great numbers and in the males have vestigial wings but in the female are wingless

2

: any of several small American stone flies (especially Taeniopteryx nivalis or Capnella pygmaea) often seen on snow

3

: snow gnat

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