cyclorrhapha

Cyclorrhapha is a large clade of flies within the suborder Brachycera of the order Diptera. The group is characterized by a pupal stage in which the larva forms a hardened puparium, within which metamorphosis occurs. Adults generally emerge through a circular opening in the puparium, a feature central to the name.

Taxonomy and diversity: Cyclorrhapha comprises two major lineages, Calyptratae and Acalyptratae, and includes the most species-rich lines of higher flies, including the Schizophora. Notable families include Muscidae (house flies), Calliphoridae (blowflies), Sarcophagidae (flesh flies), Tachinidae (parasitoid flies), Drosophilidae (fruit flies), Tephritidae (true fruit flies), Oestridae (bot flies), and Agromyzidae (leaf miners).

Ecology and economic importance: Members occupy diverse habitats and roles, ranging from saprophages and detritivores to pollinators and parasitoids. Several taxa are agricultural pests or vectors of disease, while others have beneficial roles in biological control, decomposition, or research. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, a model organism in genetics and developmental biology, belongs to this group.

Evolution and morphology: The puparium and related emergence mechanism are key diagnostic features, along with other morphological traits used in higher classification. Classification within Cyclorrhapha has shifted with modern phylogenetics, but the group remains defined by life cycle and developmental traits rather than by a single shared adult morphology.