What Order Do Flies Belong to?

True flies, also called dipterans, belong to the order Diptera. The name Diptera means “two wings,” and they differ from most other winged insects, which typically have four wings. All flies are attracted to moist organic matter. Some species, known as filth flies, are very valuable scavengers. However, they can also be harmful to humans.

The order is further divided into suborders. The Brachycera suborder has four subgroups: Tabanomorpha, Stratiomyomorpha, and Asilomorpha. Each of these suborders has distinctive characteristics, including a long, calcified larval mandible. The larval stages of each species have two or three segments, while those of the other suborders have only one segment.

Flies have an enormous range of habitats and display enormous variation in appearance. Most species of flies have haustellate mouthparts that aid in the collection of liquid food. These mouthparts are highly variable, and may have evolved from multiple evolutionary origins. Flies may also be intermediate hosts for parasites and viruses.

There are more than 110,000 species of flies in the world. Many flies are useful mimics. They are classified according to their habitats and the kind of food they prefer. Bee flies, for example, are excellent at mimicking other insects, and some species are used as biocontrol agents.

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