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Family Sarcophagidae - Flesh Flies
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon (Calyptratae)
Superfamily Oestroidea
Family Sarcophagidae (Flesh Flies)
Explanation of Names Sarcophagidae Macquart 1834
Numbers about 400 spp. in 49 genera in our area, ~3,100 spp. in >170 genera worldwide (1)(2)(3)(4)
Identification At least Sarcophaginae have 4 setae on the notopleura: 2 primary and 2 subprimary setae.
Often lack distinct acrostichals.
Apical scutellar setae absent or reduced in at least the female.
Similar to blowflies, but generally blackish with gray thoracic stripes (never metallic); 3 black racing stripes on a gray background
The subfamilies are defined, both anatomically and biologically, in (5)
Pictorial key to some S.American spp. in (6)
Although a few species are distinctive, New World Sarcophagidae should be considered impossible to identify.[comment by John F. Carr]
Range worldwide and throughout NA (4)(1)
Food Larvae: many species are necrophagous, but some feed in mammalian tissues or parasitize other arthropods (bees, cicadas, termites, grasshoppers/locusts, millipedes), earthworms, or snails (4). Adults feed on various sugar-containing materials such as nectar, sap, fruit juices and honeydew.
Remarks comprehensive, up-to-date info is provided in (5)
Despite numerous online claims to the contrary, Sarcophaga carnaria ("common flesh fly") doesn't occur anywhere in the Americas. These records are, in part, influenced by a combination of erroneous common name usage and and an obsolete definition of the species. Instead of a single common species, this representation has since been split into nearly 150 subgenera comprising at least 800 described species. For example, virtually all identifications of that species on iNaturalist fall under this obsolete species definition and are taxonomically equivalent, at best, to the current taxonomic concept of Sarcophagidae.
*Note that Sarcophaga subivicina, a very closely related species to S. carnaria (thus also in the subgenus Sarcophaga), is present, established, and now potentially common in eastern North America. -Arturo Santos
See Also a few tachinids have the characteristic sarcophagid thorax stripe pattern:
Works Cited 1. | Manual of Nearctic Diptera Volume 2 Varies for each chapter; edited by J.F. McAlpine, B.V. Petersen, G.E. Shewell, H.J. Teskey, J.R. Vockeroth, D.M. Wood. 1987. Research Branch Agriculture Canada. | |
4. | Molecular phylogeny of the Calyptratae (Diptera: Cyclorrhapha)... S.N. Kutty, T. Pape, B.M. Wiegmann, R. Meier. 2010. Systematic Entomology 35: 614–635. | |
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm Additional contributions by cotinis, Beatriz Moisset, Robin McLeod, Tony-2, Bbarnd, Chuck Entz, v belov, Marci Hess, PaleoJon, Arturo SantosLast updated 29 October, 2023 - 4:14pm |
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