(Class Insecta, Order Diptera)
Invertebrates Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
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General: Flies (Order Diptera) are a hugely diverse group of abundant flying creatures in the desert and mountains around Las Vegas. There are some 17,000 species of flies in North America with some thousands in the deserts. True flies have a single pair of wings. Most flies never bother humans, yet the human experience is with biting, blood sucking, garbage infesting flies. Look beyond these few species to learn about this biologically important group of animals. Many groups of flies lay eggs in the water, and then the larvae live as aquatic creatures. Look for them around the edges of shallow ponds |
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Lots and lots of flies! |
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House Flies (Family Muscidae) |
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Hover Flies (Family Syrphidae) |
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Typical Robber Flies (Family Asilidae) |
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Bee-like Robber Flies (Family Asilidae, Laphria spp.) |
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Blow-flies (Calliphoridae; aka bottleflies, carrion flies) |
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Bee Flies (Bombyliidae) |
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Western Horse Fly (Family Tabanidae, Tabanus punctifer) |
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Midges (Family Chironomidae) |
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Crane Fly (Family Tipulidae) |
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Black Fly Larvae (Family Simuliidae) |
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Other Interesting Fly Species |
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Fly Larvae. Many fly larvae develop in water and other wet places, such as in this spring on a rock wall in southern Utah. |
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
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© 2012 Jim Boone; Last updated 111219
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