Order Diptera

Commonly referred to as the true flies, they have a single pair of wings, while their second pair is modified into club-like organs called halteres that aid in stabilizing flight. They are important ecologically as pollinators, decomposers, and, in some cases, vectors of disease.

Acknowledgements: All images of the Haleakalā National Park entomology collection were photographed as part of a project in collaboration with the University of Hawai‘i. This initiative was conducted through the Hawai‘i-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit under Agreement Number P23AC02110. The photographs were taken by Spencer Pote, with oversight from Dr. Daniel Rubinoff, entomologists with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Insect Museum. The photographs have been placed online for visitors to view.