Flesh Fly
Scientific Name: Sarcophaga spp.
Size: Total Length up to 20mm
What does it look like?
There are numerous species of Flesh Fly with similar appearance. Typically grey to yellowish thorax and head, bluish grey abdomen and often with bright red eyes. Top of the thorax is often marked with three longitudinal dark stripes and abdomen chequered. Forewings membranous with darker veins and hindwings reduced to stabilising halteres. Numerous long black bristles at rear of abdomen.
Where is it found?
Widely distributed throughout Australia.
What are its habitats & habits?
The Flesh Fly occurs in woodlands, grassland and urban areas, where adults occasionally feed from flowers. Adults arrive at carcases shortly after blowflies, and female lays live larvae (maggots) in the rotting corpse, the eggs she carried hatching in her uterus before laying to allow the larvae to feed immediately.
This species features in my book A Naturalist’s Guide to the Insects of Australia
