Diptera50 species

Family Flesh Flies (Sarcophagidae)

Sarcophagidae is a family in the order Diptera. Browse 50 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Species in Sarcophagidae (50)

Amobia signata

A fly with a rather bluish grey chequered appearance. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the size and

Boettcheria cimbicis

Identification: Separating males of this species from other related Boettcheria requires examination of the terminalia. Females have pruinosity covering the entire posterior surface of the metafemur, unlike all other Boettcheria. "Boettcheria cimbici

Brachicoma devia

Sarcophagidae are very difficult to determine to species level without microscopic examination, so will need to be checked in detail unless confirmed by a recognised expert. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specim

Helicobia rapax

Larvae are usually parasitoids of land snails, but can develop in other invertebrates, living or dead.

Macronychia dolini

A relatively distinctive Sarcophagid, with a body length of 10 to 12 mm. The abdomen has three triangular marks on each tergite, and is constricted towards its base. The wings extend well beyond the abdomen and have some pale brown shading. The legs

Miltogramma punctata

A medium-sized (body length 5.5 to 9.5 mm), heavily-dusted and solidly-built Sarcophagid. The eyes are unusually large, and the antennae inserted quite low on the face. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required, and the specimen s

Nyctia halterata

7-9mm (typically). A shiny black-bodied flesh fly with wings that are darkened anteriorly. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID m

Phrosinella fulvicornis

"The adults occur on barren, sandy ditch bottoms, over sand dunes, on sand bars, barren places in open pastures, on stone-strewn country roads and on the upper marine beach. In such places they are frequently associated with several species of Senota

Rafaelia rufiventris

Aldrich (1916) published a description of this species misidentified as Sarcophaga rufiventris Wiedemann.

Ravinia acerba

Identification: Arista plumose, frontal rows not distinctly diverging, parafacial with scattered hairs, tegulae pale, 3 PS DC, 1st segment hypopygium red (sometimes dark basally)

Friendly Fly

Sarcophaga aldrichi

Identification: Similar to house flies but larger. Appear in large numbers when tent caterpillars ( Malacosoma spp. and spongy moths Lymantria dispar ) are abundant. They help control tent caterpillar populations. They are called friendly flies becau

Grey Flesh fly

Sarcophaga bullata

Pupae are available to buy from biological supply houses such as Ward's Science as hosts for the parasitoid wasp Nasonia .

Sarcophaga carnaria

A large species but similar in appearance to other members of the family. Unless confirmed by an expert detailed examination is necessary to confirm the species. Please supply a photograph with your records. It is necessary to key out this species un

Sarcophaga crassipalpis

This species is frequently cultured in laboratories and used for research on insect development and behavior.

Sarcophaga melanura

"Perhaps the best known and biologically most-diverse species in the subgenus Helicophagella is Sarcophaga (Helicophagella) melanura Meigen. It occurs widely in the Holarctic, extending northward to the Arctic Circle and south to the northern parts

Sarcophaga nearctica

Identification: DNA barcoding of Sarcophaga nearctica or Sarcophaga caerulescens specimens often matches sequences for both species, but once narrowed down to those two species they can easily be told apart morphologically - S. nearctica has red geni

Sarcophaga sarraceniae

Identification: See comments on images (linking to iNaturalist ) and print reference. Definitive identification likely requires microscopic examination of genitalia.

Sarcophaga sarracenioides

Identification: Hypopygium red, genitalia diagnostic.

Sarcophaga sinuata

Identification: Black tip to the abdomen as in S. melanura , setae of the midfemora are orange. The subgenus Sarcotachinella is treated as a genus in Manual of Nearctic Diptera , but placed as a subgenus by Pape (Catalogue of the Sarcophagidae of the

Senotainia vigilans

Identification: Very similar to S. litoralis, but that species has a completely dark abdomen. Also similar to S. rubriventris, but that species has narrower genae, different male genitalia, and less thickened aristae.

Sphenometopa tergata

Identification: Strong bristles on facial ridge with weak row of hairs on parafacial. Male with broad, silvery frons and two small proclinate orbital bristles.

Taxigramma hilarella

"Generally associated with fossorial sphecids, but there is one authentic record of it as a parasite of a camel cricket."

Fox Maggot

Wohlfahrtia vigil

Identification: The western form is distinctive with its tan abdomen with three rows of dark spots. In the eastern form the dark spots are much larger and blend together, leaving four rows of pale spots. Larvae cause myiasis in young mammals, develo