Biology 3484A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Drosophila, Stout, Brachycera
21 Apr 2018
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The water is not clean if there are no fly larvae. Larvae aquatic but air-breathing: important food source for aquatic animals: fish, amphibians, insects, etc. ; bats, birds, amphibians eat adults; consider complete lifecycle. Larvae feed on algae, organic debris, microorganisms and some on other larvae. Family tipulidae: crane flies: 4 500 described (one of the largest families, often mistaken for mosquitoes, non-biting, harmless, gentle, poor fliers, most larvae aquatic or semi-aquatic, some adults are pollinators. Brachycera: derived flies (no common name: more robust flies with shorter, modified antennae, synapomorphy: antennae with 8 or fewer segments, adults of most advanced flies have sponging mouthparts that easily take liquid food; some are blood-lapping. Larvae live in their food: rotting plant matter, rotting animal bodies; or are parasitoids and feed on or in a host organism. Family tabanidae: horse flies, deer flies: females inflict painful bite; do not puncture but slice/saw flesh, noisy fliers, some adults are pollinators.
