Brachycera
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Asilomorpha |
Brachycera is a suborder of Diptera. It is a major suborder consisting of around 120 families. The most distinguishing characteristic of the suborder is reduced antenna segmentation. A summary of main physiological characteristics follows:
- Reduced antenna size (with 8 or fewer flagellomeres).
- A maxillary palp (an elongated appendage near the mouth) having only 2 segments or less.
- The back portions of the larval head capsule extend into the prothorax (the anterior part of the thorax which bears the first pair of legs).
- There are two distinct parts which comprise of the larval mandible (lower jaw).
- The epandrium and hypandrium of the genitalia are separated in males.
- No premandible on the lower surface of the labrum (the roof of the mouth).
- A distinct configuration of the CuA2 and A1 wing veins.
Brachyceran flies can also be distinguished through behavior. Many of the species are predators or scavengers.
[edit] Classification
The structures of subgroups within the Brachycera is a source of much confusion and controversy; many of the names used historically (e.g. Orthorrhapha) have not been used in decades, but still persist in textbooks, checklists, faunal catalogs, and other sources. Additionally, most recent classifications no longer use the Linnaean ranks for taxa (e.g., the Tree of Life Web Project), and this creates its own set of problems. See discussion for details.
