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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Calyptratae » Muscoidea » Dung Flies (Scathophagidae) » Scathophaginae » Scathophaga » Golden Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

Species Scathophaga stercoraria - Golden Dung Fly

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References

5015926 Scathophaga - Scathophaga stercoraria

Golden Dung Fly? - Scathophaga stercoraria

golden fly - Scathophaga stercoraria - male

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 stercoraria (Golden Dung Fly)

Other Common Names

Yellow Dung Fly

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

First described in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus as Musca stercoraria

Scatophaga stercoraria (A common spelling of the genus- correct as Greek, but incorrect as a scientific name)

Explanation of Names

SCATHOPHAGA: from the Greek skatos (σκατος) [a variant of skor (σκωρ)] (- "excrement" + phagein (φαγειεν)- "to eat"; refers to the larvae, which eat excrement [i.e. dung]

STERCORARIA: from the Latin stercoris- "of dung"; the larvae are found in dung

Size

adult body length 7-9 mm

Identification

adult males are bright yellow or golden; females are usually grayer; both sexes very hairy on body and legs

Range

throughout North America and the world

Habitat

larvae found in/on dung of domestic and wild animals

adults found in the neighborhood of larval development sites (dung) which can be just about anywhere - pastures, meadows, woodlands, beside standing or running water, parks, gardens, etc.

Season

spring through fall

Food

larvae feed on dung

adults prey mostly on other fly species, and occasionally on other insects

Life Cycle

multiple generations per year, the number depending on latitude (more in the south; fewer in the north)

Remarks

This species has been studied extensively in attempting to understand the importance of sperm competition in the evolution of male mating behavior.

Internet References

live adult image (Johannes Skaftason, Iceland)

live adult image of pair mating (Michel Vuijlsteke, Europe)

live adult photo and distribution (Iziko Museums of Cape Town, South Africa)

mechanism of sperm competition (Research project at U. of Zurich, Switzerland)

Linnaeus Systema Naturae, 10th edition, v.1, pt. 2. p. 599 Linnaeus' original description of the species (in Latin)

Contributed by john and jane balaban on 29 October, 2004 - 4:31pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, Chuck Entz
Last updated 31 December, 2009 - 9:46pm

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