Definitions for "Diptera"
Keywords:  flies, midges, mosquito, gnats, ptera
An extensive order of insects having only two functional wings and two balancers, as the house fly, mosquito, etc. They have a suctorial proboscis, often including two pairs of sharp organs (mandibles and maxillæ) with which they pierce the skin of animals. They undergo a complete metamorphosis, their larvæ (called maggots) being usually without feet.
The order of true flies. The word Diptera litteraly means "to move in or pass through the air with wings".
the true flies, an order of insects with sucking mouth parts; nearly all posses a hind pair of wings modified to serve as stabilizers during flight (Morris 1992).