About Lesson
ORDER: DIPTERA
- Flies are characterized by a single pair of membranous wings attached to an enlarged mesothorax.
- The hind wings on the metathorax are reduced to a pair of knoblike appendages.
- The halter helps to balance the insects.
- Flies range in size from less than 1mm in length (midge) to 75 mm (tropical robber flies).
- The compound eyes are often large; in mangy groups, the expanded eyes of males meet on top of the head whereas they do not in females.
- Most adult flies have sucking mouth parts that are modified for piercing, lapping, g, or sponging the mouth parts are nonfunctional in some species.
- Food consists chiefly of nectar but numerous feed on fruit juice, and lant saps.
- Fly larvae are usually legless and have either a distinct or greatly reduced head. The latter types are maggots.
