Stalk-eyed Fly

Stalk-eyed Fly

Stalk-eyed flies are insects of the fly family Diopsidae. The family is distinguished from most other flies by the possession of "eyestalks": projections from the sides of the head with the eyes at the end. Some fly species from other families such as Drosophilidae, Platystomatidae, and Tephritidae have similar heads but the unique character of Diopsidae is that the antennae are located on the stalk, rather than in the middle of the head as in all other flies.

Their unique morphology has inspired a great deal of research into how the attribute may have arisen through forces of sexual selection and natural selection. Studies of the behavior of the Diopsidae have yielded important insights into the development of sexual ornamentation, the genetic factors that maintain such a morphological feature, sexual selection, and the handicap principle.