Order Diptera – 2 winged true flies
Diptera means “ two wing”
Traits:
- Have only 1 pair of wings (forewings)
- The 2nd pair of wings is absent, or reduced to small knobbed balancing organ.
- Membranous forewings usually translucent with relatively few veins.
- Prevalent in most habitats and are often the first flying insects to emerge in spring
- Usually day active; feed on a wide variety of plants and animal fluids
- Mouthparts modified for feeding on liquids by piercing, sucking, lapping, or sponging.