Flies are one of the most popular insects that exist among us due to the inconveniences that usually cause. But the reality is that most of them are beneficial because they help recycle decomposition matter to be integrated into the nutrient cycle again. Many of them are also pollinating, attending the reproduction of plants, as for example does the cocoa mosquito. As you will see, there is much more to learn about these animals, so we invite you to read this ecology article to know more about the Definition of diptera, their characteristics and types.
What are the dipteros and their characteristics
Diptera are an order of neopter insects, so they have wings, but they are different from most of them because they only have one pair of functional wings. These are membranous and can use them to raise flight, but the second pair of wings is reduced in structures called halterios. These are also important for diptera because they help them maintain balance, give them direction and guidance while flying.
Your body is divided into three very well defined fragments:
- Head: where sensory organs are concentrated. Modified mouth pieces stand out, and compound eyes.
- Chest: Here are the wings, halterios and the three pairs of articulated legs that are divided into coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, tarsus, nails and pads.
- Abdomen: groups the digestive, reproductive and circulatory system.
To see a more concrete example, we leave you the following ecology article with the parts of the fly. Now that you know the definition of diptera and their characteristics, we will see how these insects are classified.
Classification of Diptera
There are near 160 thousand species of dipterabut the broader taxonomic classification groups them into two groups that consist of the Nematóceros Diptera and the Brachicer Diptera.
Dipteros Nematóceros
They are diptera with long antennas with prolongations similar to feathers, and elongated body. Mosquitoes are an example of the nematóceros. Have The infraorders:
- Axymyiomorpha
- Bibionomorpha
- Blephariceromorpha
- Culicomorpha
- Psychodomorpha
- Ptychopteromorpha
- Typulomorpha
Brachíceros Dipteros
Brachicer diptera are characterized by having short antennas and the short rounded body, such as flies. Your infraorders are:
- Asilomorpha
- Muscomorpha
- Stratiomyomorpha
- Tababoomorpha
- Vermileonomorpha
- Xylophagomorpha
Types of Diptera
There are many types of diptera, but we can group them according to the common names we use to refer to them:
- Flies: They are dark and with many villi in the body. We tell you what flies are for in the following post of Ecology Verde.
- Moscardones: They are similar to flies but larger size.
- Mosquitoes: females are hematophagous that feed on blood. They are important disease transmitters. They belong to the culícids. You can also discover what mosquitoes are for in this article that we suggest.
- PSYCHODIDES: They are similar to mosquitoes, but smaller size.
- Tábanos: Large diptera that bite to extract blood from mammals.
- Typules: They are similar to mosquitoes but larger size. Unlike them, typules do not bite. Do not hesitate to take a look at the following article on the typulas: bite, what they are and what they eat.
- Chironomides: They are also similar to mosquitoes. Adults live so little that most never feed. Some may drink a few drops of honey dew.
These are just some groups, but as you can give yourself an idea, this group of diptera is very varied and includes more than we know.
Dipter feeding
Diptera have Very varied food And for each type they have adapted mouth structures to its purpose. Some have a trunk with which they aspire only liquids, helping regurgitation to better process food.
In their adult phase, some diptera can be hematophagous like the tábanos and mosquitoes that have structures with which they bite and absorb the skin. Others are crop pests because they feed on plants. Finally, some kinds of diptera are predators of other insects, maintaining a balance in the entire trophic chain.
This diet too varies according to the stadium of the specimen. The larva phase is the preadulting development stage that ingests food. When in this phase the majority feed on decomposition or vegetation matter.
On the other hand we can mention that the food of the diptera is related to us, because they can harm or help us. Some have medical importance because they transmit diseases to humans, such as fliasis flias, where adults place larvae under human skin and feeding on tissues.
Dipteros Life Cycle
Diptera go through a metamorphosis process through the following phases:
- Egg: where embryonic development is completed.
- Larva: The active feeding phase to gather the necessary food before locking.
- Pupa: Here the diptera enclose themselves without feeding and isolated from abroad to complete their metamorphosis.
- Adult: A fully developed and winged adult emerges from the pupa.
Now, the life cycle varies according to the species. For example, mosquitoes place their eggs on the surface of the water, the fruit flies do in the fruit shells or in the garbage, while the common flies usually do it in wet ground or in feces.
Some diptera They are ovoviviparoswhere females retain the egg to form the larva, and this emerges just when it is time to pup.
Larvae can also develop in different media. Some can grow within the leaves of plants, others under human skin, inside fruits or even meat. The adult state is short in most diptera.
If you want to read more articles similar to Diptera: definition, characteristics and typeswe recommend that you enter our biodiversity category.
- Beatty, R., Beer, A., & Deeming, C. (2010). The book of nature. Great Britain: Dorling Kindersley.
