The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)

The Diptera ("di-ptera" = two-winged) or "true flies" is the largest order of animals in the UK with around 7,000 known species and new ones being discovered every year. They are found in all habitats from the sea shore to mountain tops. Whilst some are agricultural pests or vectors of disease, the great majority are beneficial. They are extremely important as predators on other pests and diseases, as pollinators, as food for other animals and the immature stages of the bulk of the species are involved in the decay of organic matter and the recycling of material back into the soil.

Entomologists who specialise in these insects are "dipterists". In 1993, a group of people who wanted to find out more about every aspect of their lives, including the habitats they require, set up the Dipterists Forum. There is a great deal still to learn about flies. Mapping the distribution of some groups is a major achievement of the Dipterists Forum to date, but the immature stages of the majority of species are still unknown. Many species are becoming increasingly rare as a result of habitat loss and climate change.

Why not join the Dipterists Forum and help us find out more about flies? There is so much still to learn; we welcome beginners and there are always people who can help you out in the early stages. You don’t need to be an expert, or even to leave your own garden, to contribute to our knowledge of these fascinating insects. Flies need your help! Read more ...

• So how do I join?
• Benefits of membership
• Objectives of Dipterists Forum
• Diptera recording schemes

December is rushing up and I would like to invite all DF members to think about putting in a small (or large!) contribution to the news section of the next issue of the Bulletin.  The deadline for contributions to reach the editor is 31st December for the Spring Bulletin. Why not put aside a little time for writing about that interesting bit of fly behaviour you observed, or habitat association, or flower feeding preference? Comments and tips on microscopy, photography or Dipterological supplies would also be welcome.  Whilst your observations will be gratefully received, if you have very exciting records of 'New to County' or even 'New to Britain' species this is perhaps more appropriate to send in as a short note for the the next issue of the more formal Dipterists Digest.

Any photographs would be good to enhance the interest of your Bulletin article.  Whilst only black and white reproduction is possible in the printed Bulletin, remember they will appear in full colour in the version of the Bulletin which is posted on this website.  Check inside the Bulletin for how and where to send in your contribution.
thanks in advance,
Judy

Bookings are now possible for these 2 excellent workshops to be held next March at Preston Montford (Field Studies Council Centre). Please contact Preston Montford directly to book.

Beginner's Workshop: Introduction to Hoverflies.  Taught by Stuart Ball and Roger Morris who run the hoverfly recording scheme.  Specimens and microscopes provided, but if you have some hoverflies of your own to try, do bring them.  Stuart and Roger are very enthusiastic tutors.  See the comments from attendees at last year's workshop.  Early booking advised!

Advanced Workshop: Picture Wing Flies (Tephritids, Pallopterids, Opomyzids, Ulidiids and maybe more).  Taught by very experienced DF members.  This tackles flies with attractive patterned wings, which makes them more accessible, however some can be tricky and a certain level of skill in dealing with e.g. bristling (chaetotaxy) is assumed. Please bring your own microscope and light.  Specimens provided, but do bring your own as well.

Preston Montford is the ideal centre for these courses because of the excellent laboratory facilities, great food, comfortable accommodation and friendly staff.  A small bar is open on site every evening and a very good social time is usually the case after a day's work at the microscope.

Please contact Preston Montford for costs and further details:
Preston Montford Field Centre
Montford Bridge
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY4 1DX
Tel:  0845 330 7378
Fax:  01743 851066
Email: enquiries.pm@field-studies-council.org
Website: www.field-studies-council.org/prestonmontford

Accommodation for the Dipterists Summer Field meeting in 2009 has now been booked at Swansea University for 4th - 11th July.

Rooms will cost £39.10 per night if you want en suite and £33.60 per night otherwise. This includes breakfast and evening meal. There will be an additional cost for the use of a room for our lab and we may or may not have to pay VAT on the total (still under negotiation - depends on convincing them that "the meeting is genuinely educational and not run for a profit").

Roger has booked 20 rooms and will require a deposit of £40 from you to secure a place.

I have added a new feature to the web-site: our own Wiki. If you don't know what a "Wiki" is, go to the introductory page and read about it.

It is meant for Dipterists Forum members - so, if you are in the "Committee" or "DF Member" user-groups, then you can edit the Wiki. Just logon in the normal way, and go to the Wiki - you should find that, when you are logged in, [Edit] buttons appear. Again, the introductory page, has more information.

The idea is that, working as a community, we collectively build a really useful source of information about flies.

You may have noticed that the "Glossary" section has gone from the menu. The reason is that I have moved it into the Wiki. The other two areas that are there at the moment are the flies currently listed on BAP and the accounts of British fly families.

Please help by adding to and improving these entries.

When you register as a user of this web-site, your status will be "Registered User" - which does not give you a great deal of access beyond that of a "Guest" who is not logged in.

To access the areas and facilities available to Forum members, I have to make you a member of the "DF Members" user-group.

Myself, and our membership secretary Mick Parker, are keeping on eye on the new registrations, trying to spot members and bump them up. But it is not always easy, because some people use rather cryptic user-names and don't fill in their real name.

So, if you are a Dipterists Forum member and haven't been flagged as such on the site, please email me (including your username!) and I will upgrade your status.

We would ask members to include their real name in their profile on the site so that people know who they are talking to on the forums. To do this:
    - log on
    - click "Profile" in the menu across the top of the page or in
      the Navigation panel on the left
    - click "Personal" in the Profile menu
    - enter your name in the "Real name" edit box
    - click the [Submit] button

Thanks