True Flies (Diptera)
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Glasgow Museums has a collection of approximately 6,000 true fly specimens (Diptera) which date from the 1873 to the present.
This collection contains dried and pinned adults, many of which are accompanied by their empty pupal cases. There are examples of all life stages preserved in alcohol. The collection is almost exclusively British, including a great deal of Scottish material from interesting localities and key Scottish habitats. The local material includes specimens collected by entomologists in the early 1900s, including J. R. Malloch and R. Henderson. About one third of the collection is comprised of British craneflies (Tipulids). A further one sixth of these are hoverflies (Syrphids). The craneflies were collected and traded by previous keeper of Natural History E. G. Hancock (1985-1997). There are some interesting specimens that have been collected during Glasgow University expeditions to Trinidad in the last two decades, including some species that were previously unknown to science. The foreign material originates from right across continental Europe, Iceland, New Zealand, Australia and the USA.
About flies
The Diptera are the true flies. There are believed to be approximately 152,000 fly species worldwide, around 7,000 of which are found in the United Kingdom. They are incredibly diverse in their appearance, habits and ecology. They are vital pollinators, parasites, predators and decomposers. Many species have an economic impact due to attacking crops and livestock and transmitting disease. - Broader term
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