Diptera
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Archidiptera Eudiptera Brachycera |
Diptera are insects in which the hind wings are reduced to halteres.
Synonyms and common names
Flies, mosquitoes. In compound names containing "fly" for members of this order, the name is written as two words as in "crane fly". For insects that are members of other orders the name is written as a single word as in "butterfly".
Beyond that considerable revision in the taxonomy of the flies has taken place since the introduction of modern cladistic techniques, and much remains uncertain. The secondary ranks between the sub-orders and the families are more out of practical considerations than out of any strict respect for phylogenetic classifications. (Modern cladists tend to spurn the use of any rank names.) Several of the classifications used now in this article remain paraphyletic groupings; this is particularly notable in the Orthorrapha.
Subdivision
There are two generally accepted sub-orders of diptera. The Nematocera are usually recognized by their elongated bodies and feathery antennae as represented by mosquitoes and crane flies. The Brachycera tend to have a more roundly proportioned body and very short antennae. Family names
Families in the list below marked with a plus sign are extinct.Nematocera
Cyclorrhapha - Acalyptratae
Cyclorrhapha - Calyptratae
Cyclorrhapha - Aschiza
Higher level invalid names