diptera Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. 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
    order Diptera.

WordNet

Dip"te*ra noun plural
Etymology
NL., fr. Gr. with two wings, = twice + feather, wing: cf. F. diptère.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) 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 maxillæ) with which they pierce the skin of animals. They undergo a complete metamorphosis, their larvæ (called maggots) being usually without feet.

Webster 1913