Class Insecta Order Diptera Life History
Class Insecta Order Diptera Life History
Class Insecta Order Diptera Life History
Order Diptera
Life history
Morphology:
Classification:
In some newer classifications, Brachycera includes the Cyclorrhapha.
Nematocera - larvae have well-developed head capsules with mandibulate mouthparts. Adults with long,
multisegmented antennae.
Brachycera - larvae, known as maggots, have worm-like bodies and only a pair of mouth hooks for feeding.
Adults with stylate antennae.
Cyclorrhapha - larvae, known as maggots, have worm-like bodies and only a pair of mouth hooks for
feeding. Adults with aristate antennae.
Morphology:
1. mouthparts: piercing/sucking/sponging/sectorial (haustellate)
2. antennae: filiform, stylate, or aristate
3. legs: cursorial
4. body segments: three body segments, head, thorax, abdomen; mesothorax larger than pro- or metathorax
5. tarsi: 5 segmented
6. wings: front wings for flying; hind wings reduced (halteres)
Immatures:
1. Culiciform (mosquito larvae)
Head capsule present with chewing mouthparts
Legs absent
2. Vermiform (maggots)
Without legs or a distinct head capsule
Mouthparts reduced; only present as mouth hooks
Life history:
habitats: Adapted to a broad range of habitats terrestrial, aquatic and semi aquatic.
feeding:
Adult flies live in a wide range of habitats and display enormous variation in appearance and life style.
Although most species have haustellate mouthparts and collect food in liquid form, their mouthparts are so
diverse that some entomologists suspect the feeding adaptations may have arisen from more than a single
evolutionary origin. In many families, the proboscis (rostrum) is adapted for sponging and/or lapping. These
flies survive on honeydew, nectar, or the exudates of various plants and animals (dead or alive). In other
families, the proboscis is adapted for cutting or piercing the tissues of a host. Some of these flies are predators
of other arthropods (e.g., robber flies), but most of them are external parasites (e.g., mosquitoes and deer flies)
that feed on the blood of their vertebrate hosts, including humans and most wild and domestic animals.
Importance in landscapes: Mosquitoes transmit diseases to humans and domestic animals. Few dipteran
species damage landscape plants. In greenhouses, fungus gnats damage roots and may vector root diseases.
Many flies are beneficial since they pollinate flowers, are predators, and are parasitoids.
Families:
Biting flies: In most cases, only the adult females take blood meals.
Mosquitoes (Family Culicidae) may spread malaria, encephalitis, yellow fever, filariasis, and other diseases.
Horse flies / deer flies (Family Tabanidae) may spread tularemia, loiasis, trypanosomiasis, and other
diseases.
Black flies (Family Simuliidae) may spread human onchoceriasis and leucocytozoon infections of poultry.
Moth flies (Family Psychodidae) may spread leishmaniasis, sand fly fever, and other diseases.
Punkies, no-see-ums (Family Ceratopogonidae) small but vicious biters that have been linked to the spread
of several roundworm, protozoan, and viral pathogens in humans and other animals.
House flies (Family Muscidae) these are among the most cosmopolitan of all insects. Some species have
biting mouthparts, others are merely scavengers. Diseases such as dysentery, cholera, and yaws may be
transmitted on their feet and mouthparts.
Fruit flies (Family Tephritidae) many species are agricultural pests; such as the apple maggot, Rhagoletis
pomonella.
Leafminers (Family Agromyzidae) most larvae are leafminers, some are stem and seed borers. Several
species are agricultural pests.
Seed maggots (Family Anthomyiidae) many species are root or seed maggots.
Scavengers: larvae feed in dung, carrion, garbage, or other organic matter.
Pomace flies (Family Drosophilidae) feed on decaying fruit.
Blow flies (Family Calliphoridae) larvae feed on garbage and carrion; includes the screwworm, Cochliomyia
hominivorax.
Flesh flies (Family Sarcophagidae) larvae typically feed on carrion. Some species may cause human
myiasis.
Flower flies (Family Syrphidae) some larvae are aphid predators; most adults mimic bees or wasps.