Flies differ from other insects by having only two true wings. The hind pair is reduced to small, club-like organs called halteres. A few flies, such as the sheep ked, are wingless. Some flies, including mosquitoes, deer flies, and horse flies, have biting mouthparts and can be vectors of diseases to man and animals. Most, such as the house fly, possess another type of mouth part, known as sponging, which is used to sponge up liquid food. Metamorphosis is complete. The larvae are generally called maggots, and the pupal cases are called puparia. Flies are found in a very broad variety of habitats, including near flowers and decaying vegetation, on animals, and in houses and barns. They often go by common names associated with family level taxonomy.
Syrphid fly
Syrphidae
3/8 in.
Fruit fly
Tephritidae
1/4 in.
Bee fly
Bombyliidae
5/8 in.
Mosquito
Culicidae
3/8 in.
Crane fly
Tipulidae
1/2 in.
Vinegar fly
Drosophilidae
1/16 in.
Robber fly
Asilidae
7/8 in.
Deer fly
Tabanidae
3/8 in.
Purdue Extension Entomology, 901 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA, (765) 494-4554