cyclorrhalan

Cyclorrhapha, sometimes spelled cyclorrhaphan or cyclorrhalan in older literature, is a large clade of flies within the order Diptera. In many classifications it is treated as an infraorder or major subdivision of the suborder Brachycera, comprising the majority of what are commonly called higher flies. The name reflects a distinctive feature of their development: the last larval skin forms a hardened puparium that encloses the developing pupa.

A defining feature of Cyclorrhapha is the puparium stage. The larva molts into a puparium, an obtect case in which the pupa develops with the appendages immobile within the shell. The adult then emerges from the puparium during eclosion, often by rupturing a specific area of the case. Within Cyclorrhapha, several lineages have specialized mechanisms for emergence, including the group Schizophora, which is characterized by a frontal ptilinum or suture used to assist escape.

Taxonomically, Cyclorrhapha encompasses a broad range of flies, including both Calyptratae and Acalyptratae lineages, and contains many familiar families. Examples include Muscidae (such as the house fly), Calliphoridae (blowflies), Sarcophagidae (flesh flies), Tachinidae (parasitoid flies), Drosophilidae (fruit flies), Tephritidae (true fruit flies), and Oestridae (bot flies). The clade is extremely diverse in ecology and behavior, with species that are detritivores, saprophages, parasitoids, pollinators, or pests.

Ecologically and economically, Cyclorrhapha species play varied roles. They can be important pollinators or natural enemies, but many are pests or disease vectors, impacting agriculture, health, and food storage. The group is a central focus of studies on fly development, evolution, and systematics due to its distinctive pupal strategy and wide range of life histories.