- Small size and wings: Flies have a small and lightweight body, which allows them to maneuver quickly and easily in the air. Their wings are thin and flexible, providing them with excellent flight capabilities.
- Compound eyes: Flies have large compound eyes that cover most of their head. These eyes are made up of thousands of tiny lenses, allowing them to have a wide field of vision and excellent depth perception.
- Antennae: Flies have a pair of antennae that are used for sensing their surroundings, detecting odors, and communicating with other flies.
Mouthparts:
- Proboscis: Flies have a specialized mouthpart called a proboscis, which is used for sucking up liquids. The proboscis is long and flexible, allowing them to reach nectar, pollen, and other food sources.
- Pseudotracheae: The proboscis of some flies contains pseudotracheae, which are tiny tubes that help draw up liquids by capillary action.
Legs:
- Strong and hairy: Flies have strong and hairy legs that are adapted for walking, climbing, and clinging to surfaces. The hairs on their legs help them to grip onto rough surfaces and even upside down.
- Tarsal claws: The legs of flies have tarsal claws that allow them to grasp and hold onto objects firmly.
Ovipositor:
- Egg-laying: Female flies have an ovipositor, which is a tube-like structure used for laying eggs. The shape and structure of the ovipositor vary among different species of flies, allowing them to lay eggs in various locations, such as soil, water, or on the bodies of other insects.
Wings:
- Flight: Flies have two pairs of wings that allow them to fly. The forewings are larger and stronger than the hindwings, providing the main lift and propulsion during flight. The hindwings function as stabilizers and help maintain balance.
- Halteres: Some flies have a pair of small structures called halteres that are modified hindwings. Halteres vibrate during flight and help flies maintain stability and sense their orientation in the air.