Brachycera

The Brachycera are a suborder of the order Diptera. It is a major suborder consisting of around 120 families. Their most distinguishing characteristic is reduced antenna segmentation.

Description

A summary of the main physical characteristics is:

Antenna size 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.
The maxillary palp has two segments or fewer.
The back portions of the larval head capsule extend into the prothorax.
Two distinct parts make up of the larval mandible.
The epandrium and hypandrium of the genitalia are separated in males.
No premandible is present on the lower surface of the labrum.
The configuration of the CuA2 and A1 wing veins is distinct.

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

Classification

The structure of subgroups within the Brachycera is a source of much confusion and controversy; many of the names used historically 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, and this creates its own set of problems.