Diptera Taxonomy

Question 1

Three sub-orders of Diptera

Answer 1

Nematocera
Brachycera
Cyclorrhapha

Question 2

Nematocera

Answer 2

The thread-horned flies - Refers to long, slender antennae

• Most primitive sub-order with 25 families in 4-9 infra-orders and paraphyletic taxon

Question 3

Tipulidae

Answer 3

Crane flies
Most do not truly feed
Two anal veins (A1 + A2) that hit the base of their wing

Question 4

Mycetophilidae

Answer 4

Fungus gnats
Spurs on legs
Can spread plant diseases

Question 5

Scatopsidae

Answer 5

Minute black scavenger flies or dung midges
Dark costa (outer vein), sub costa and R veins are thick

Question 6

Ptychopteridae

Answer 6

Phantom crane flies
Expanded base tarsi which allow them to float
Black and white legs
Only one anal vein
False vein - folds

Question 7

Simuliidae

Answer 7

Black flies
Clear wings
Hunched bodies
Short anal veins
Anal loop on veins

Question 8

Brachycera

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Stratiomyidae

Answer 9

Wings have discal cells with four veins coming out
Antennae are distinctive
Larvae can outcompete diease causing flies for food

Question 10

Xylophagidae

Answer 10

Awl flies
Larvae has an “awl” at the end of the abdomen
Associated with wood

Question 11

Tabanidae

Answer 11

Horse flies
Hexagonal discal cell
R4/R5 veins are unique
Often banded wings

Question 12

Acroceridae

Answer 12

Hunchback flies/small headed flies
Larvae eat spiders
Most are parasitoids

Question 13

Asilidae

Answer 13

Robber flies
All venemous
Robust mouth parts
Ridge on top of eyes

Question 14

Empidiae

Answer 14

Dance flies
Some have powerful piercing mouth parts
Some are silk producing (involved in mating processes)

Question 15

Dolichopodidae

Answer 15

Long legged flies
Heads go downwards rather than outwards
Large male genitalia
Simple wings with few veins

Question 16

Muscomorpha - Higher Flies

Answer 16

• 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

Question 17

Muscomorpa - Two sections

Answer 17

Aschiza

Schizophora

Question 18

Phoridae

Answer 18

Scuttle flies
Well developed radial wings end at the costa vein
Some species are wingless
Humpback flies - some have distinctive humped ridge

Question 19

Syrphidae

Answer 19

Hover flies

Many are mimic species

Question 20

Pipunculidae

Answer 20

Big eyes flies - distinctive feature

Parasitoids

Question 21

Schizophora

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Schizophoran flies

Answer 22

Acalyptratae - many families, no transverse suture

Calyptratae - large fleshy lobes (calypters) at the base of wings, transverse sutures

Question 23

Conopidae

Answer 23

Thick headed flies
Wasp like in morphology
Parasitoid larvae
Folded mouthparts

Question 24

Tephritidae

Answer 24

Fruit flies
Colourful wings
Cup on wing
Abrupt upturning veins

Question 25

Sphaeroceridae

Answer 25

Lesser dung flies
Massive cup on wings
No anal veins and few other veins
Costa halts at the top of the wing

Question 26

Calyptrate Diptera Features

Answer 26

Transverse suture
Postacristuchal bristles
Scutellum
Basicosta
Wings - costa doesn't go all the way around

Question 27

Muscidae

Answer 27

House flies
Brown bodies
Fleshy mouth parts

Question 28

Tachinidae

Answer 28

Punk flies
Lots of bristles
Enlarged sub scutellum

Question 29

Nycteribiidae

Answer 29

Bat flies
No wings
Distinctive genitalia