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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Diptera \Dip"te*ra\, noun pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ? with two wings, di- = di's- twice + ? feather, wing: cf. F. dipt['e]re.] (Zo["o]l.) 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.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
Diptera
noun: 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}]
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |