Flies (DIPTERA)
As defined by entomologists, a fly is any species of insect of the order Diptera. These typically have one pair of true wings, with the hind wings modified into halteres. Mosquitoes are also Dipterans.
Robber Flies (ASILIDAE)
About Robber Flies Robber flies are a large family in Diptera with over 600 species in Australia. They are large and conspicuous and can be found resting on branches. They are aggressive predators, able to catch prey on the wing. Asilidae adults attack wasps, bees,...
Blowflies (CALLIPHORIDAE)
About Blowflies Blowflies are relatively large Calyptrate flies, often an attractive blue-green, metallic colour. These are known as bluebottles and greenbottles. The larvae are scavengers of carrion. Females lay eggs in dead flesh. When the maggots hatch the meat is...
Longlegged Flies (DOLICHOPODIDAE)
About Longlegged Flies Longlegged Flies Dolichopodidae are small to minute with bright metallic colors, mostly green or bronze. Adult Dolichopodid feed on smaller soft body insects such as aphids. Larvae are usually found in moist soil and under tree bark. They are...
Drosophilidae (Fruit Flies)
About Fruit Flies Drosophilidae is a diverse, cosmopolitan family of flies, including the genus Drosophila, which includes fruit flies, vinegar flies, wine flies, pomace flies, grape flies and picked fruit-flies. Photo: Robert Whyte
Lauxaniidae (Lauxaniid Flies)
About Lauxaniid Flies Lauxaniidae is a family of acalyptrate flies with around 1500 described species in 126 genera distributed worldwide. Cephaloconus tenebrosus Some Lauxaniidae, like this Cephaloconus tenebrosus are unusually shaped and appear to mimic other...
Muscidae (Muscid Flies)
About Muscid Flies Muscidae is a family of flies found in the superfamily Muscoidea, commonly known as house flies or stable flies. dults can be predatory, hematophagous, saprophagous, or feed on a number of types of plant and animal exudates. They can be attracted to...
Platystomatidae (Signal Flies)
About Signal Flies Platystomatidae is one of the larger families of acalyptrate Diptera with around 1,000 species in 50 genera. Adults are found on tree trunks and foliage and are attracted to flowers and decaying material. This fly with banded wings and abdomen,...
Sarcophagidae (Flesh Flies)
About Flesh Flies Flies of the Diptera family Sarcophagidae (from the Greek sarco = corpse, phage = eating) are commonly known as flesh flies. Most flesh flies breed in carrion, dung, or decaying material, but a few species lay their eggs in the open wounds of...
Sepsidae (Black Scavenger Flies)
About Black Scavenger Flies Black Scavenger Flies, also known as Ant Mimicking Flies, are usually found around decaying material. They resemble ants having a "waist" and glossy black body. Many Sepsidae, like this one, have dark patches at the wing end. These Sepsidae...
Stratiomyidae (Soldier Flies)
About Soldier Flies There are over 2,700 species of Soldier Flies worldwide. Larvae are found in a wide array of locations, mostly in wetlands, damp places in soil, sod, under bark, in animal excrement, and in decaying organic matter. Adults are found near larval...
Syrphidae (Hover, Drone Flies)
About Hover, Drone Flies About 6000 soecies have been described worldwide. They are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen. Drone Fly This Eristalinus sp. wasp-mimic fly has dark colour wings, yellow...
Tabanidae (March Flies)
About March Flies Tabanidae adults are often large and agile in flight. Only females bite land vertebrates, including humans, to obtain blood. They prefer to fly in sunlight, avoiding dark and shady areas, and are inactive at night. Flower-feeding March Fly...
Tachinidae (Tachinid Flies)
About Tachinid Flies Tachinidae is a large and rather variable family of true flies within the insect order Diptera, with more than 8,200 known species and many more to be discovered. Insects in this family are commonly called Tachinid flies; they have no common name....
Tipulidae (Crane flies)
About Crane Flies Tipulidae are a family of insects resembling giant mosquitoes. Like the mosquito, they are in the order Diptera (flies). They have numerous other common names, many of them more or less regional, including daddy longlegs, mosquito hawks, mosquito...
