Diptera

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Diptera \Dip"te*ra\, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ? with two wings, di-
     = di`s- twice + ? feather, wing: cf. F. dipt[`e]re.] (Zool.)
     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 maxill[ae]) with which they


     pierce the skin of animals. They undergo a complete
     metamorphosis, their larv[ae] (called maggots) being usually
     without feet.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Diptera
       n : a large order of insects having a single pair of wings and
           sucking or piercing mouths; includes true flies and
           mosquitoes and gnats and crane flies [syn: {order Diptera}]