Brachycera

/ˌbræk.iˈsɛr.ə/ noun

Definition

A suborder of flies characterized by short antennae, including most familiar flies like house flies and robber flies.

Etymology

From Greek brachys (short) + keras (horn/antenna), describing the defining feature of these insects' short antennae.

Kelly Says

Flies are split into two groups by antenna length—Brachycera (short-horned) and Nematocera (long-horned)—and it turns out antenna length changes how flies track smells and hunt, showing that tiny body features matter hugely.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.