True Flies
Diptera

Diptera, commonly referred to as “true flies,” are a class of two-winged insects such as mosquitos, backflies or horseflies. One of the largest insect orders, it numbers more than 125,000 species.

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Cranefly larvae The site of a stream restoration along almost 5,000 feet of Pope Branch is home to a crane fly larvae in Southeast Washington, D.C., on March 28, 2019. The entire watershed of 1.6-mile Pope Branch falls inside the District of Columbia and feeds into the Anacostia River. The stream was restored in 2016. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program) USAGE REQUEST INFORMATION The Chesapeake Bay Program's photographic archive is available for media and non-commercial use at no charge. To request permission, send an email briefly describing the proposed use to requests@chesapeakebay.net. Please do not attach jpegs. Instead, reference the corresponding Flickr URL of the image. A photo credit mentioning the Chesapeake Bay Program is mandatory. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way or used in any way that suggests approval or endorsement of the Chesapeake Bay Program. Requestors should also respect the publicity rights of individuals photographed, and seek their consent if necessary.

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Appearance

These insects have one pair of flight wings and a pair of modified hind wings called halteres, which are used for balancing. They have large compound eyes and the antennae are variable depending on the species.

Feeding

Adults feed on plant or animal juices or other insects.

Predators

True flies are eaten by many species of birds, small mammals, frogs and toads.

Reproduction and life cycle

The life cycle of a true fly consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The process and duration of these stages varies based on species.

Did you know?

  • The word Diptera comes from the Greek di for 'two' and ptera for 'wings.
  • The creatures serve as an abundant food source for many well-loved species and in many cases are even important pollinators.

Sources and additional information

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