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    Diptera – Flies & mosquitoes

    These buzzing dancers are the aerialists of insect world

    “Fly” is written as one word but when we’re talking about Diptera, it’s written as two words… fly logic!!

    The term “fly” appears in the names of many insects, such the whitefly, dragonfly, and butterfly, however these insects are not dipterans. Any term that refers to other than Diptera is written as one word (e.g., dragonfly, stonefly, mayfly). However, the names of the Diptera order that contain the word “fly” are written as two words (crane fly, black fly, horse fly).

    This order is characterized by having a single pair of functional wings. This is distinguishing character because other insects have either two pairs of wings or four wings. The second pair in dipterans is modified into knob-like halteres, which serve as balancing organs during flight.

    Mouthparts adapted for various feeding strategies, including piercing-sucking, sponging, or chewing.

    Flies, evolving for 240 million years since the Early Triassic, diversified significantly during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, leading to various fly families and ecological adaptations.

    Dipterans, impact agriculture, health, and forestry with some groups causing nuisances and health issues. Despite drawbacks, flies play vital roles as scavengers, pollinators, bio-indicators, and tools in scientific research.

    Did you know?

    • Some dipterans, such as certain species of midges, have incredibly rapid wing beats, reaching frequencies of up to 1,000 beats per second.
    • The lifespan of adult dipterans can vary widely. Some may live only for a few days, others, like certain crane flies, can survive for several weeks.
    • Dipteran larvae, often referred to as maggots, exhibit remarkable diversity in their habitats. They can be found in aquatic environments, soil, decaying matter, and even within the tissues of other organisms, adaptability to various ecological niches.
    • The buzzing sound produced by mosquitoes is not just a random noise. Male mosquitoes harmonize their wing beats to create a unique symphony, to produce a frequency that attracts females.