Muscidae and Other Families
February 18, 2008 Sarcophagidae Flesh flies >2000 species
Larvae of most species breed in meat Difficult to ID species--usually genitalia Large mm Grey and black, stripes and checkerboard Sarcophagidae Global distribution Sarcophaga haemorrhordalis
Mostly attracted to carrion Fly in rain, may be first to reach corpse Otherwise arrive after blowflies Feces Sarcophagidae Females deposit live 1st instar larvae
viviparous or larviviparous Approx per female At the moment, not commonly used ininvestigations Muscidae Large fly group
Includes number of species of economic/public healthimportance House fly, face fly, stable fly, horn fly, latrine fly General Adult Appearance
Frontal suture on head 3 segmented antenna with subterminal arista Wing with 1-3 posterior cells on wing Has large calypteres Meron bare Musca domestica House fly Everywhere there are humans 6-9 mm
Dull grey body, 4 longitudinal stripes Wings held apart when at rest 1st attracted to excrement, follows blow flies tocarrion Hydrotaea sp. Dump flies All over US
Common on excrement during hot months < 6 mm Occurs late in succession--after 4-5 months 2nd/3rd instars facultative predators Fannia sp. Lesser/little house fly, latrine fly 6-7 mm, everywhere
Dull brown to black 3 stripes on thorax Larvae small and flat with lateral processes on eachsegment Active during summer Larvae in liquified material Muscina sp. False stable flies Throughout US
Most active during summer, somewhat active year- round 8-10 mm--slightly larger than houseflies w/ heavierbodies Pale tip on scutellum Attracted to carrion in late stages of decay Able to reach shallow bodies 3rd instar larvae are predaceous Synthesiomyia nudiseta
7-10 mm (one of larger muscids) Grey w/ checkered abdomen 4 longitudinal stripes Palps on antennae yellow-orange Terminal segment yellow (not red) Larvae large and predaceous Will eat C. rufifacies Puparia in silky white substance soil adheres Sepsidae Black Scavenger Flies Adults 2.3-3.5 mm
Look like parasitic wasps Spherical head, clear wings with dark spot at tip Tiny maggots