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.