UK Wildlife Blog

True flies – Diptera
a kite tailed robberfly

The only ‘real’ flies, they can be separated from the other groups as they only have one pair of wings, with the second pair having been reduced to pair of short stubbing balancing organs called halteres. This diverse group includes the midges, robber flies, houseflies, crane flies, mosquitoes and gnats.


Alderflies – Macroptera
an alderfly

Usually found near water which is where its larvae live. The adults have long antennae and two roughly equal sized dark veined wings which are held roof like over the body when not in flight.


Scorpionflies – Mecoptera
a male scorpionfly

The 3 UK species are all of the genus Panorpa, and can be recognised by there large scissor like jaws and the scorpion-like tail in the males. More on scorpionflies can be found here


Snakeflies – Raphidioptera
a snakefly

An insect of woodland and forests it in instantly recognisable thanks to its elongate ‘neck’ (which is actually it prothorax) on which it can raise up its head.


Stoneflies – Plecoptera
a stonefly

Typically found near flowing water, where the nymphs are usually found, particularly streams and rivers with stony beds. The adults are flattened, with reasonably long antennae and the wings rest flat over the body at rest. They also have 2 short ‘tails’ (cerci) at the end of the abdomen.


Dragonflies + Damselflies – Odonata
a common darter dragonfly

These are large predatory insects as both adults and nymphs. They have roughly equal sized wings, short antennae and large eyes. Dragonflies are large powerful fliers that rest with their wings open, where as the smaller damselflies rest with there wings closed or in the case of emerald damselflies, at 45 degrees to the body.


Mayflies – Ephemeroptera
a mayfly

The group is famous for its short lived adults, which sometime s live only for one day, in which time they emerge from the aquatic nymph at the waters surface, fly off to a perch and moult again before finding a mate and laying eggs in water before dying. They can be recognised by their weak flight, their long abdomen, the wings being held closed at rest and there 2 or 3 long ‘tails’ (cerci) at the end of the abdomen. It is one of the most primitive insect groups


Caddisflies – Trichoptera
a caddisfly

The adults can be confused with moths due to their moth like shape and hairy bodies. The wings are held roof like over the body when not in flight and they have long antennae. The aquatic larvae are well known for making protective tube like cases around there bodies.


Sawflies – Hymenoptera
a Tentheredo mesomelas sawfly

The Order Hymenoptera also includes bees and wasps. The sawflies have medium to long antennae, chewing mouth parts, the wings rest flat over the body at rest, and unlike the rest of the Hymenoptera, sawflies do not have a slender ‘waist.’


References

McGavin, G. C., Pocket Nature: Insects and spiders, Doring Kindersley, London, pgs 224

Grimaldi, D. and Engle, M. S., 2004, Evolution of Insects, Cambridge University Press, pgs 468-480