True Flies
02 Jun 2025
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True Flies
Latin: Diptera — Relevance to Fly Fishing:
Diptera, or true flies, are insects with one pair of wings and a pair of halteres, which aid in balance and flight.
Where you can find True Flies
On this map you see where there were observations of True Flies around the world. This will give you an idea of the global distribution of this class. Note that a class can have many different families, and thousands of species.
Notable members of this class, such as midges and mosquitoes, serve as food sources for various fish species and inspire a multitude of fly patterns.
Diversity and distribution
The Diptera class consists of more than 150,000 known species, organized into approximately 160 families and numerous genera. True flies have a worldwide distribution and can be found in virtually every habitat.
Life cycles of true flies
The life cycle of true flies typically consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. After mating, female true flies lay their eggs near or on water sources. The eggs then hatch into larvae, which can be aquatic or terrestrial depending on the species.
Larvae feed on various organic materials, such as decaying plant matter, algae, and other small organisms. As they grow, they undergo several molts before entering the pupal stage. During this stage, the larvae transform into adults within a protective casing.
Once fully developed, adult true flies emerge from their pupal cases and take flight. Adult flies have a relatively short lifespan, during which their primary objective is to find a mate and reproduce.
True Flies in fly fishing
Several species of true flies, particularly midges and mosquitoes, play a crucial role in fly fishing due to their abundance in freshwater ecosystems and their importance as a food source for fish.
Larval and pupal patterns
Since true flies spend a significant portion of their lives as larvae and pupae, patterns that mimic these stages can be highly effective in fly fishing. Larval patterns, such as the Zebra Midge or the Brassie, imitate the appearance and behavior of true fly larvae, while pupal patterns like the WD-40 or the Pheasant Tail Nymph imitate the pupal stage. These patterns are particularly effective when fish are feeding on true flies undergoing metamorphosis.
Adult patterns
Adult patterns are mostly used when fish are actively feeding on adult true flies, which typically occurs during and shortly after a hatch. Some popular adult true fly patterns include the Griffith's Gnat, the Mosquito Dry Fly, and the Palomino Midge.
Flies that mimic species in the insect order True Flies
There can be thousands of species within an order, and therefore lots of different flies imitating various of these species. Flies can also imitate different stages, for example larvae, pupae and adults.
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