Diptera (True Flies)  

The Diptera are one of the most diverse groups of insects with over 7,000 species recorded in Britain. The main characteristic of the group is a single pair of functioning wings, the hind wings have been reduced to form halteres which are used as balancing organs during flight.

Apart from the Syrphidae (hoverflies) most dipteran taxa in the Outer Hebrides are very poorly recorded both in terms of the species composition and their distribution.

A comprehensive overview of the taxonomy and biology of the British Diptera is proivided in A Dipterist's Hanbook (Chandler 2010)