Muscidae and Other Muscidae and Other FamiliesFamiliesMarch 2, 2009March 2, 2009

MuscidaeMuscidaeLarge fly groupLarge fly group

Includes number of species of economic/public Includes number of species of economic/public health importancehealth importance

House fly, face fly, stable fly, horn fly, latrine House fly, face fly, stable fly, horn fly, latrine flyfly

General Adult General Adult Appearance Appearance Frontal suture on headFrontal suture on head

3 segmented antenna with subterminal arista3 segmented antenna with subterminal arista

Wing with 1-3 posterior cells on wingWing with 1-3 posterior cells on wing

Has large calypteresHas large calypteres

Meron bareMeron bare

Musca domesticaMusca domesticaHouse flyHouse fly

Everywhere there are humansEverywhere there are humans

6-9 mm6-9 mm

Dull grey body, 4 longitudinal stripesDull grey body, 4 longitudinal stripes

Wings held apart when at restWings held apart when at rest

1st attracted to excrement, follows blow flies 1st attracted to excrement, follows blow flies to carrionto carrion

Hydrotaea sp. Hydrotaea sp.

Dump fliesDump flies

All over USAll over US

Common on excrement during hot monthsCommon on excrement during hot months

< 6 mm < 6 mm

Occurs late in succession--after 4-5 monthsOccurs late in succession--after 4-5 months

2nd/3rd instars facultative predators2nd/3rd instars facultative predators

Fannia sp.Fannia sp.

Lesser/little house fly, latrine flyLesser/little house fly, latrine fly

6-7 mm, everywhere6-7 mm, everywhere

Dull brown to blackDull brown to black

3 stripes on thorax3 stripes on thorax

Larvae small and flat with lateral processes on Larvae small and flat with lateral processes on each segmenteach segment

Active during summerActive during summer

Larvae in liquified materialLarvae in liquified material

Muscina sp.Muscina sp.False stable fliesFalse stable flies

Throughout USThroughout US

Most active during summer, somewhat active Most active during summer, somewhat active year-roundyear-round

8-10 mm--slightly larger than houseflies w/ 8-10 mm--slightly larger than houseflies w/ heavier bodiesheavier bodies

Pale tip on scutellumPale tip on scutellum

Attracted to carrion in late stages of decayAttracted to carrion in late stages of decay

Able to reach shallow bodiesAble to reach shallow bodies

3rd instar larvae are predaceous3rd instar larvae are predaceous

Synthesiomyia nudisetaSynthesiomyia nudiseta7-10 mm (one of larger muscids)7-10 mm (one of larger muscids)

Grey w/ checkered abdomenGrey w/ checkered abdomen

4 longitudinal stripes4 longitudinal stripes

Palps on antennae yellow-orangePalps on antennae yellow-orange

Terminal segment yellow (not red)Terminal segment yellow (not red)

Larvae large and predaceousLarvae large and predaceous

Will eat Will eat C. rufifaciesC. rufifacies

Puparia in silky white substancePuparia in silky white substance

soil adheressoil adheres

SepsidaeSepsidae

Black Scavenger FliesBlack Scavenger Flies

Adults 2.3-3.5 mmAdults 2.3-3.5 mm

Look like parasitic waspsLook like parasitic wasps

Spherical head, clear wings with dark spot at tipSpherical head, clear wings with dark spot at tip

Tiny maggots <5 mmTiny maggots <5 mm

All over US, active in Texas as long as over 45-50 All over US, active in Texas as long as over 45-50 FF

Fee predominantly on dung, but sometimes on Fee predominantly on dung, but sometimes on carrioncarrion

PiophilidaePiophilidaeSkipper fliesSkipper flies

Gnat-like insects--< 5 mmGnat-like insects--< 5 mm

Shiny blue-black, lower legs yellowShiny blue-black, lower legs yellow

Small larvae 6-9 mm Small larvae 6-9 mm

Can jump/skip Can jump/skip

Adults found on body early, larvae lateAdults found on body early, larvae late

Life cycle 11 days (or more)Life cycle 11 days (or more)

PhoridaePhoridae

Scuttle Flies, coffin fliesScuttle Flies, coffin flies

Run in jerky mannerRun in jerky manner

Most active in later stages of decayMost active in later stages of decay

Able to dig down to coffinsAble to dig down to coffins

~0.5 m in a few days~0.5 m in a few days

Can complete life cycle under groundCan complete life cycle under ground

55 million flies--60 days55 million flies--60 days

Any questions?Any questions?