Diptera
(flies)

Female black flies (pictured to the left) are blood feeders. Overseas, black flies transmit a variety of diseases to humans and cattle. In North America, they pose no such threat, but many have felt their painful bite. Other flies, such as the Drosophila (pictured below left), are used extensively in genetic research. Bill Ballard and Avis James, lecturers of BugCamp, study populations of Drosophila collected from around the globe.

A closeup of a female black fly, showing the rasping mouthparts that are used for blood feeding. Photo courtesy of Bill Ballard.