Sarcophaga - BugGuide.Net

Genus Sarcophaga

From Richard Vernier:
"Combination of fairly slender outline, bright reddish compound eyes and robust hairy legs is the hallmark for this genus. Telling the species is much more tricky, because several very similar species exist." Ref. post # 88328

Again, he addresses the legs in post # 96196
"Note the robust, almost spider-like, legs of this specimen.... Hardly any other calyptrate flies have such legs"

Personally, the first thing I look for are three black stripes on the thorax, then red eyes, then a red "tail light" which may be strictly male. Often, the thorax is described as having a "checkerboard" pattern.

As to Musca, I'm puzzled myself.

… Ron Hemberger, 5 December, 2007 - 1:29pm

Thanks!

Not that great an image, but I'm moving it for now. Hard to believe that there was nothing from NJ!

… John R. Maxwell, 5 December, 2007 - 2:38pm

RE: "nothing from NJ"

When I got started here not quite two years ago, there was little from CA, and I shared your feeling. You can make a big contribution here! I'm betting you will, and you've already got more than a hundred images on site. (To get a count anytime, go to the end of Your Images, check the number on the right of the URL, next add in the number of photos then showing on the screen.)

… Ron Hemberger, 5 December, 2007 - 6:38pm

Sorting through my files

I have close to a thousand images I'm sorting through. Deleting bad images, keeping the best of each subject. I like to try an ID myself before posting. I'm patient and if it takes a year or two so what. Every now and then I'm clueless and just want to "look in the back of the book".
It seems that my very worst images are new species or genus and then I can't delete. Mostly I'm just getting confirmation on common over-represented species. Peer review for my sanity, but maybe I can pay it back as I get to be a better IDer. Hopefully the more experienced people will like me doing the "boiler plate" IDs, so they can do the hard IDs. Then as I learn some of that, maybe people will have some time to fill in Guide Pages :-)

… John R. Maxwell, 5 December, 2007 - 10:20pm

A couple parallels

"It seems my very worst images are new species or genus" - Boy, do I know that one. In honor of deer hunters everywhere, I call it 'bug fever'. A friend called in 'getting the first olive out of the jar', wherein the escapee can become a bit mangled. But it's great to go back and get that better shot.

"Doing the 'boiler plate' IDs" - We're very complementary here. On very simple - or very tough - basic IDs, I often tag the post and wait a couple days to see if anyone bites. BTW, I find your IDs very helpful and pertinent.

… Ron Hemberger, 6 December, 2007 - 8:07am