Species Scathophaga furcata

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Identification · Range · Habitat · Works Cited

5002805 Scathophaga - Scathophaga furcata

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon (Calyptratae)

Superfamily Muscoidea

Family Scathophagidae (Dung Flies)

Subfamily Scathophaginae

Genus Scathophaga

Species furcata (Scathophaga furcata)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Scathophaga furcata (Say, 1823)

Synonyms: (in part)

Pyropa furcata Say, 1823

Scathophaga squalida Meigen, 1826

Scathophaga bicolor Walker, 1849

Scathophaga pubescens Walker, 1849

Scathophaga canadensis Walker, 1858

Cleigastra suisterci Townsend, 1891

Scathophaga postilena Harris, 1835 (nomen nudum)

The species was known as S. squalida Meigen in Europe, but the Say name has priority.

Identification

Arista nearly bare, fore femur with large black patch, mid and hind femora usually yellow, R-M crossvein not far beyond end of R1, dark patches over crossveins. Near the south end of its range the color pattern will distinguish it from the few other species of Scathophaga.

Leg coloration can be variable, with an occasional specimen having darkened middle or hind femora or even with the front femora entirely pale. (1)

Range

Widespread holarctic, south to Mexico. (2) Very common in North.

James (1) gives western records as AB, BC, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY

Habitat

Larvae probably feed in dung.

Works Cited

1.	The genus Scopeuma Meigen in the western United States and Canada. James, M.T. 1950. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 43: 343-353.

2.	A Catalog of the Diptera of America North of Mexico Alan Stone, et al. 1965. United States Department of Agriculture.

Contributed by Martin Hauser on 8 April, 2009 - 12:13am
Additional contributions by Bbarnd, Vox Sciurorum
Last updated 13 May, 2014 - 9:43pm

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