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Brachycera

Common name:

Circular-seamed flies, muscoid flies, short-horned flies, mouches muscoïdes

Distribution:

Every continent except Antarctica

Habitat:

Usually near an aquatic or semiaquatic environment, though many also live in drier habitats

Diet:

Larvae, including decaying materials, fungus, carrion, live insects and animals, and some plants.

Number of species globally

80,000

Number of species in Hong Kong :

351

Morphology
(how to recognize them) :

-Reduced antenna segmentation
-Two distinct parts make up of the larval mandible (lower jaw)
-The maxillary palp (an elongated appendage near the mouth) has two segments or fewer.

Diagram

Did you know ?

Flies are the second largest group of pollinators after the Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, and relatives). In wet and colder environments flies are more important as pollinators. Compared to bees, they need less food as they do not need to provide for their young. Many flowers that bear low nectar and those that have evolved trap pollination depend on flies.

Gallery

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