Diptera Taxonomy Flashcards
(29 cards)
Three sub-orders of Diptera
Nematocera
Brachycera
Cyclorrhapha
Nematocera
The thread-horned flies - Refers to long, slender antennae
• Most primitive sub-order with 25 families in 4-9 infra-orders and paraphyletic taxon
Tipulidae
Crane flies
Most do not truly feed
Two anal veins (A1 + A2) that hit the base of their wing
Mycetophilidae
Fungus gnats
Spurs on legs
Can spread plant diseases
Scatopsidae
Minute black scavenger flies or dung midges Dark costa (outer vein), sub costa and R veins are thick
Ptychopteridae
Phantom crane flies Expanded base tarsi which allow them to float Black and white legs Only one anal vein False vein - folds
Simuliidae
Black flies Clear wings Hunched bodies Short anal veins Anal loop on veins
Brachycera
The short-horned flies
• Adults well-built, compact bodies.
• Antennae short - fewer than 8 antennal flagellomeres
• Larvae with reduced head (hemicephalous) and usually retractile
Slightly curved style in antennae
Stratiomyidae
Wings have discal cells with four veins coming out
Antennae are distinctive
Larvae can outcompete diease causing flies for food
Xylophagidae
Awl flies
Larvae has an “awl” at the end of the abdomen
Associated with wood
Tabanidae
Horse flies
Hexagonal discal cell
R4/R5 veins are unique
Often banded wings
Acroceridae
Hunchback flies/small headed flies
Larvae eat spiders
Most are parasitoids
Asilidae
Robber flies
All venemous
Robust mouth parts
Ridge on top of eyes
Empidiae
Dance flies
Some have powerful piercing mouth parts
Some are silk producing (involved in mating processes)
Dolichopodidae
Long legged flies
Heads go downwards rather than outwards
Large male genitalia
Simple wings with few veins
Muscomorpha - Higher Flies
- Largest sub-order with 79 families including fruit flies, house flies, blow flies, bluebottles, flesh flies and warble flies.
- Antennae short, three segmented with large hair arising dorsally near middle of third segment.
- Larvae have no distinct head capsule (acephalous). Pupate within last larval skin
Muscomorpa - Two sections
Aschiza
Schizophora
Phoridae
Scuttle flies
Well developed radial wings end at the costa vein
Some species are wingless
Humpback flies - some have distinctive humped ridge
Syrphidae
Hover flies
Many are mimic species
Pipunculidae
Big eyes flies - distinctive feature
Parasitoids
Schizophora
Schizophoran adults have facial ptilinal suture and lunules
Ptilinum is a sac used by the adult to escape the puparium
Expand head capsule
Ridge known as ptilinal suture
Schizophoran flies
Acalyptratae - many families, no transverse suture
Calyptratae - large fleshy lobes (calypters) at the base of wings, transverse sutures
Conopidae
Thick headed flies
Wasp like in morphology
Parasitoid larvae
Folded mouthparts
Tephritidae
Fruit flies
Colourful wings
Cup on wing
Abrupt upturning veins
