Abstract.1. A survey was made of the distribution of Lonchopteridae over 2 years at forty sites in northern England. Material was collected by pitfall trapping.2. Two species,Lonchoptera luteaandL.furcata, were taken in approximately similar numbers. No other species were recorded.3. Considerable separation of the two species was found, with both species occurring at ten sites, whilst one species only was taken at twenty‐five sites.L.furcataoccurred coinrnonly on upland mineral sods, shallow peat soils and on lowland bogs whilstL.luteawas numerically most abundant on upland blanket bog.4. Almost 39% of theL.luteaspecimens and 14% of theL.furcatacaptures were males.5. The capture of numbers of males ofL.furcatais unusual, since the species is regarded as being parthenogenetic and males occur only in a very small part of the species' range. Confirmation of the association between the males and females ofL.furcatais given, whilst there is close agreement between the cliaetotaxy of British males and females, and British and continental European females. The suggestion that the males belong to an undescribed species is rejected.6. The seasonal captureof L.luteaadults is similar at all altitudes. Captures of males ofL.furcatashow an abrupt seasonal change above and below about 420 m; captures being in mid‐summer in the higher altitude zone and between October and December at lower altitudes. The captures of femalesof L.furcatashow the same trend, but this is partially obscured by the longer life‐span of the females. It is suggested that this difference represents a change in the lifecycle, possibly from an annual to a biannual one at the higher altitudes.7. The biology and distribution of the Lonchopteridae at low altitudes requires investig