Diptera

DIPTERA (FLIES)

The Diptera collection is considered one of the strongest segments of the Canadian National Collection of Insects. Over two million fly specimens are housed in over 4600 drawers, alcohol and slide cabinets, making it one of the largest Diptera collections in the world. Approximately 65% of the collection is curated to the level of species or species group, and over 80% of the collection is curated to the genus level. Nearly 4500 primary types reside in the Diptera collection, in part through the acquisition of the Mesnil, Reinhard, Hull, W.R. Thompson and Garrett collections, and these types are catalogued (see Diptera Types in the Canadian National Collection of Insects).

Although most specimens are from the Nearctic region, coverage is worldwide, with impressive holdings from the Neotropics (particularly Chile), the Palaearctic (especially Scandinavia, Great Britain, Austria and Spain), as well as Nepal and Uganda. Families that are particularly well represented include the Agromyzidae, Calliphoridae, Ceratopogonidae, Chamaemyiidae, Chironomidae, Dolichopodidae, Empididae, Lauxaniidae, Lonchaeidae, Mycetophilidae, Pipunculidae, Sarcophagidae, Scathophagidae, Sciomyzidae, Simuliidae, Stratiomyidae, Syrphidae, Tabanidae and Tachinidae. In addition, the collection contains relatively diverse holdings of immature Diptera, an impressive slide collection, and several hundred Upper Cretaceous fossil flies in Canadian amber.

Collection Holdings

Click here for link to holdings, organized by family

Diptera Links on this Site

Conopidae
Diptera phylogenetics
Pipunculidae
Syrphidae
Therevidae

Personnel

Staff Photo

Brooks, S. Technician (Empidoidea)
Cumming, J.M. Scientist (Empidoidea) & Unit Curator of Diptera
Gibson, J. Ph.D. Student (Conopidae)
Jackson, M. M.Sc. Student (Syrphidae)
Kelso, S. Technician (higher flies)
Locke, M. M.Sc. Student (Syrphidae)
Mahony, S. Technician (Tachinidae)
McConnell, J. B.Sc. Honour's Student (Pipunculidae)
Miranda, G. F. G. Ph.D. Student (Syrphidae)
O'Hara, J.E. Scientist (Tachinidae)
Sinclair, B.J. CFIA Biologist (Empidoidea)
Skevington, J.H. Scientist (Pipunculidae, Syrphidae and Conopidae)
Wood, D.M. Honorary Research Associate (Tachinidae)
Young, A. M.Sc. Student (Syrphidae)

Former Personnel (Historical Information)

Click here for link to retired scientists and technicians page

Hennig Translations

Diptera Types in the Canadian National Collection of Insects (on North American Diptera Society web site)

Part 1. Nematocera (1991)
Part 2. Brachycera (exclusive of Schizophora) (1993)
Part 3. Schizophora (exclusive of Tachinidae) (2000)
Part 4. Tachinidae (1996)
Supplement. Third edition (2007)

Type Holdings at Some Other Institutions

California Academy of Sciences (CAS)
University of Copenhagen, Zoological Museum (ZMUC)

Books on Diptera Authored by CNC Staff (Summary, Contents and Ordering Information)

Manual of Nearctic Diptera (out of print)
A Catalog of Nearctic Chironomidae
The Insects and Arachnids of Canada (Handbook Series) (click here for availability)
Part 6 - The Mosquitoes of Canada (Diptera: Culicidae)
Part 11 - The Genera of Larval Midges of Canada (Diptera: Chironomidae)
Part 16 - The Horse Flies and Deer Flies of Canada and Alaska (Diptera: Tabanidae) (click to download pdf - 24 MB)
Part 18 - The Flower Flies of the Subfamily Syrphinae of Canada, Alaska and Greenland (Diptera: Syrphidae (click to download pdf - 314 MB)

Address Directories (off site)

Directory of North American Dipterists
Directory of European Dipterists
Directory of South American Dipterists
Directory of World Diptera Systematists

Diptera Newsletters (on North American Diptera Society web site)

Fly Times
Tachinid Times

Catalogues (off site)

Catalogue of the Diptera of the Australasian and Oceanian Regions
Catalogue of the Fossil Flies of the World
Catalogue of the Insects of South Africa
Checklist of Dolichopodidae s.str. of America North of Mexico
Species 2000
Taxonomic and Host Catalogue of the Tachinidae of America North of Mexico
Tiara, Insects and Terrestrial Arthropods of south-central United States and adjacent Mexico
World Diptera Catalogue

Diptera Families

Acartophthalmidae
Asilidae
Bombyliidae
Clusiidae
Culicidae (AMCA)
Empidoidea
Lauxanioidea
Phoridae
Pipunculidae
Sarcophagidae
Scenopinidae
Somatiidae
Sphaeroceridae catalogue
Syrphidae of Ontario
Tachinidae
Tachinid Bibliography (1980-Present)
Tephritidae
Therevidae

Other Diptera Links

Costa Rican Diptera
Diptera Info (interactive site - coordinated by P. Beuk)
The Diptera Site (coordinated by F.C. Thompson)
Diptera Tree of Life
International Congresses of Dipterology
North American Dipterists' Society (NADS)
Studia dipterologica

This page last updated on 02-Sep-2009
Webmaster:
Dr. J.H. Skevington