How do you identify a Diptera?
Insects in the order Diptera have only one pair of wings (2 wings total). Their antennae are generally shorter than their head. Insects in the order Neuroptera have long, thin, cylindrical bodies. Their two pairs of wings are generally the same size.
What is the common name for Diptera?
Flies
Flies, gnats, maggots, midges, mosquitoes, keds, bots, etc. are all common names for members of the order Diptera. This diversity of names documents the importance of the group to man and reflects the range of organisms in the order. The order is one of the four largest groups of living organisms.
What are the characteristics of order Diptera?
Common characteristics of the order include:
- One pair of wings (forewings)
- Hindwings reduced to club-like halteres.
- A large and moveable head.
- Compound eyes that are often very large.
- Sucking, piercing and sucking or sponge-like mouthparts (all adapted for a liquid diet)
What group of insects does the order Diptera denote?
dipteran, (order Diptera), any member of an order of insects containing the two-winged or so-called true flies. Although many winged insects are commonly called flies, the name is strictly applicable only to members of Diptera.
How many species of Diptera are there?
Diptera is a major order of insects, with about 150,000 described species and perhaps more than a quarter of a million species in some 150 families.
What is unique about Diptera?
Life History & Ecology The order Diptera includes all true flies. These insects are distinctive because their hind wings are reduced to small, club-shaped structures called halteres – only the membranous front wings serve as aerodynamic surfaces. All Dipteran larvae are legless.
What are the economic importance of Diptera?
Economic Importance The Diptera probably have a greater economic impact on humans than any other group of insects. Some flies are pests of agricultural plants, others transmit diseases to humans and domestic animals.
What is the economic importance of Odonata?
Although not considered to be of high economic importance, they do provide esthetic/spiritual benefits to humans, and may have some impact as predators of disease vectors and agricultural pests. In addition, their larvae are very important as intermediate or top predators in many aquatic ecosystems.
What do Odonata eat?
Midges and mosquitoes make up the bulk of their diet, but dragonflies will also prey on flies, bees, beetles, moths, butterflies, and other flying insects. The larger the dragonfly, the larger the prey insect it can consume (including other dragonflies and damselflies).