Economically important families

a. Culicidae

• The presence of scales on the wings and body and the long proboscis help to identify mosquitoes. Male are prominent plumose antennae.
• Females feed on nectar as well as blood; the majority of species feed on animals other than humans.
• Mosquitos’ larvae and pupae are aquatic and occur in a variety of habitats depending on the particular species.

Common species

• Ades, Anopheles, Culex

b. Tabanidae- Deer and horse flies

Common species

Tabanus atratus, Tabanus liineala, Chrysops callidus

c. Asilidae- Robber flies

• They have a long abdomen that tapers posteriorly, a bearded face, and concavity on top of the head.

d. Syrphidae – Flower flies, Syrphid fly

Common species Syrphus opinator, Syrphus ribesii

e. Tephretidae/ Trypetidae- Fruit flies

• These are small to medium-sized flies that have banded or spotted wings and varied body colors.
• Many species slowly move their wings up and down while resting.

Common species: Mango fruit fly (Dacus sp.). Citrus fruit fly, cucurbit fruit fly

f. Drosophilidae- Vinegar flies

• They are 3-4 mm long and generally yellowish. Adults are very common around ripe and fermenting fruit and also occur on decaying vegetation.

Common species

Drosophila melanogaster

g. Agromyzidae- Leafminers

• The tiny to small black or yellowish flies in this family are common on vegetation but easily overlooked because of their small size.
• Larvae are chiefly leaf miners and often make a narrow winding mine that widens towards one end as the larva grows.

Common species: Phytomyza sp.

h. Muscidae- House Flies, Stable Flies and Allies

Common species

Musca domestica, Musca autumnalis, Muscina stables

I. Calliforidae- Flesh flies

j. Tachinidae- Tachinids

k. Babilionidae- Marsh flies