See Also: Wilson, Alexander(encyclopedia)
Wilson, (James) Harold, Baron Wilson (of Rievaulx)(encyclopedia)
Alexander, Harold (Rupert Leofric George) Alexander, 1st Earl(encyclopedia)
Wilson(2)(dictionary)
Wilson(1)(dictionary)
Wilson's Promontory(encyclopedia)
Scott-Wilson, H(medicine)
Wilson's Disease(health)
Disease, Wilson(health)
Wilson's disease(medicine)

dipteran (sh) and Wilson, Alexander (sh)


dipteran (sh)




Any member of the more than 85,000 species in the insect order Diptera (the two-winged, or "true," flies), characterized by the use of only one pair of wings for flight and the reduction of the second pair of wings to knobs used for balance.

Dipterans live in all habitats worldwide, including the subarctic and high mountains. They range in size from about 0.05 in. (1 mm) long (midges) to 3 in. (8 cm) long (robber flies). Dipteran larvae break down and redistribute organic materials, and both adults and larvae are a significant link in numerous Food chains. Many species are annoying bloodsuckers, and several (e.g., housefly, mosquito, sand fly, tsetse fly) are vectors of disease. Other species cause great damage to agricultural crops. See also blowfly, crane fly, fruit fly, gnat, horsefly, leaf miner.


Wilson, Alexander (sh)




born July 6, 1766, Paisley, Renfrew, Scot.
died Aug. 23, 1813, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.

Scottish-born U.S. ornithologist.

In Scotland he wrote poetry while working as a weaver and peddler; in 1792 his satiric works led to a fine and imprisonment. Impoverished, in 1794 he immigrated to the U.S., where he became a teacher. Influenced by William Bartram, he decided งใ 1804 to write on North American birds, and he began studying Art and ornithology in his leisure time. His pioneering work American Ornithology (9 vol., 1808-14) established him as a founder of the field. After publication of its first volume, he spent much of his time selling subscriptions for the expensive work and collecting specimens for the remaining volumes.