Subfamily Sarcophaginae

Classification · Identification · Food · Works Cited

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon (Calyptratae)

Superfamily Oestroidea

Family Sarcophagidae (Flesh Flies)

Subfamily Sarcophaginae

Identification

well-defined, monophyletic group, but the taxonomy of subordinate taxa is in flux, and there is great inconsistency among sources(1)

Food

small carrion (dead insects, snails, smaller vertebrates) -- only few species are breeding in larger vertebrate carcases and feces; some are able to develop on decomposing vegetable matter (e.g., melon/tomato pulp); some groups prey on snail, earthworms, spider eggs, turtle eggs; several genera include specialized parasitoids of arthropods (various Orthoptera, tenebrionid beetles, cockroaches, mantids, cicadas, millipedes) or ant/termite nest dwellers(1)

Works Cited

1.	The world of flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), by T. Pape, G. Dahlem, C.A. de Mello Patiu, & M. Giroux

Contributed by Keith Bayless on 20 February, 2007 - 4:43pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, v belov
Last updated 3 December, 2010 - 9:01am

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