Brachycera

Brachycera Temporal range: Callovian–Present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Tachina praeceps
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Suborder:	Brachycera Zetterstedt 1842
Infraorders
Asilomorpha Muscomorpha Stratiomyomorpha Tabanomorpha Vermileonomorpha Xylophagomorpha † Archisargoidea

The Brachycera are a

• flagellomeres) is reduced. In many species the third segment, the flagellum, is fused, except from a bristle called the arista that is sticking out from the fused flagellum. The arista consist of no more than three segments called aristomeres.^[4][5][6]
• The maxillary palp (an elongated appendage near the mouth) has two segments or fewer.
• 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).
• Two distinct parts make up of the larval mandible (lower jaw).
• The
  genitalia
  are separated in males.
• No premandible is present on the lower surface of the labrum (the roof of the mouth).
• The configuration of the CuA2 and A1
  veins
  is distinct.

Brachyceran flies can also be distinguished through behavior. Many of the species are

The structure 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 also

• Larger brachycera

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brachycera.

Wikispecies has information related to Brachycera.

• The Tree of Life Web Project: Brachycera
• Brachycera images

References