Diptera (Flies)
Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Diptera
Flies are insects with a single pair of wings, there are approximately 240,000 species. They include the gnats, mosquitos, house flies and hoverflies. The true flies are a very important group as many transmit diseases and have a significant impact on human health.
For more information on dipterans in general click here
Trinidad & Tobago Flies
A lot of early work on vector species including the flies was carried out in Trinidad. Almost 200 species of mosquito have been recorded from these islands. Other groups such as the horseflies and blood-sucking midges have also been well studied.
For detailed species lists for some of the major Dipteran families found in T&T see these following papers:
For profiles of selected species click here
UWIZM Collections
In the museum there are two cabinets from the CABI collection, one from UWI/ICTA and one from CAREC. There are representatives of over 32 families. They have been collected from all over Trinidad and the surrounding region with a focus on the vector species such as the mosquitos.
Highlights
Drawer of flies from the family Tachinidae, a parasitic group
A Yellow Fever Mosquito (Aedes aegypti) from the CAREC collection
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Last updated 28 June 2018
