Platypezidae - Flat-footed flies

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Flies

True flies (order Diptera) are an immense group with over 100,000 known species. They all have their hind pair of wings reduced to pin-shaped structures called halteres which act as gyroscopes to maintain balance in flight. Most feed on liquids, including nectar and blood.

The Dipterist's Forum offers a huge range of support for those interested in this group.

The families in the gallery below represent flies that are in the dipteran sub-orders Brachycera and Cyclorrhapha which are 'higher' flies, meaning later to evolve than the Nematocera which are displayed in the Craneflies, Gnats & Midges gallery. All families are displayed in taxonomic order. Note that Hoverflies (Syrphidae family) are displayed in a separate gallery.

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Platypezidae - Flat-footed flies

Most members of this family are woodland specialists associated with fungi. The best way to find them is to look out for their characteristic behaviour of running around quickly on leaves, often in circles. Search for them in autumn especially on Sycamore, but also Ivy, Oak and other species.