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True Flies - order Diptera

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The biting midge belongs to the family Ceratopogonidae of the order Diptera. They are particularly fond of damp areas, such as lakes, rivers, bogs, and that's why they are prolific in Ireland and Scotland.

Diptera is an order of insects that use only a single pair of wings to fly and are commonly known as True Flies. It is Ireland's largest insect group with over 3,300 known species.

Long-legged Cranefly (Tipula paludosa) aka Daddy long-legs.

Long-legged Cranefly.

Dipterans use only a single pair of wings to fly; the hindwings having evolved into small, knobbed appendages known as halteres, which act as high-speed sensors of rotational movement.