''Sarcophaga'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

true flies Flies are insects of the order Diptera, the name being derived from the Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwings having evolved into advanced ...

and the

type genus In biological taxonomy, the type genus is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name. Zoological nomenclature According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearing type of a nomina ...

of the flesh-fly

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

(

Sarcophagidae Sarcophagidae () are a family of flies commonly known as flesh flies. They differ from most flies in that they are ovoviviparous, opportunistically depositing hatched or hatching maggots instead of eggs on carrion, dung, decaying material, or op ...

). The members of this cosmopolitan genus are frequently known as common flesh flies. This genus occurs essentially worldwide. These flies are generally well-sized and of a greyish color; like many of their relatives, the typical patterns are lengthwise darker stripes on the

thorax The thorax or chest is a part of the anatomy of humans, mammals, and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main divisions of the ...

and dark and light square dots on the

abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the tors ...

. Many have conspicuous red

compound eye A compound eye is a visual organ found in arthropods such as insects and crustaceans. It may consist of thousands of ommatidia, which are tiny independent photoreception units that consist of a cornea, lens, and photoreceptor cells which dis ...

s. These are set further apart in females than in males; the females are also larger on average. As typical for this family, it is almost impossible to tell the species apart from their outward appearance, and many can only be reliably identified by

microscopic The microscopic scale () is the scale of objects and events smaller than those that can easily be seen by the naked eye, requiring a lens or microscope to see them clearly. In physics, the microscopic scale is sometimes regarded as the scale be ...

examination of the males'

genitalia A sex organ (or reproductive organ) is any part of an animal or plant that is involved in sexual reproduction. The reproductive organs together constitute the reproductive system. In animals, the testis in the male, and the ovary in the female, ...

. As the common name implies, their

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. Th ...

e typically feed on decaying meat. Some, however, instead eat the

bacteria Bacteria (; singular: bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria were am ...

and other small organisms living on

carrion Carrion () is the decaying flesh of dead animals, including human flesh. Overview Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters (or scavengers) include crows, vultures ...

. Many species have

adapted In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the po ...

to humans, and while they are usually nuisance

pest Pest or The Pest may refer to: Science and medicine * Pest (organism), an animal or plant deemed to be detrimental to humans or human concerns ** Weed, a plant considered undesirable * Infectious disease, an illness resulting from an infection ** ...

s, some are medically significant vectors of

pathogen In biology, a pathogen ( el, πάθος, "suffering", "passion" and , "producer of") in the oldest and broadest sense, is any organism or agent that can produce disease. A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a ger ...

s and bacteria. Sometimes, the larvae cause

myiasis Myiasis is the parasitic infestation of the body of a live animal by fly larvae (maggots) which grow inside the host while feeding on its tissue. Although flies are most commonly attracted to open wounds and urine- or feces-soaked fur, some s ...

. Others are parasitoids of pest

caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larva, larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterfly, butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawfly ...

s and beneficial in

forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands. ...

and

orchard An orchard is an intentional plantation of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit- or nut-producing trees which are generally grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of la ...

s. Well-known species are ''

Sarcophaga africa ''Sarcophaga (Bercaea) africa'' is a species of fly belonging to the family Sarcophagidae, the flesh-flies. It is the best known species in its genus. ''S. africa'' feeds on living and dead tissue, including snails, and other decomposing matter, ...

'', ''Sarcophaga bercaea'', the grey flesh-fly ''

Sarcophaga bullata ''Sarcophaga bullata'', or the grey flesh fly, is a species of fly belonging to the family Sarcophagidae. It varies in size from small to large, 8 to 17 millimeters in length and is very similar in appearance and behavior to a closely related s ...

'', '' Sarcophaga carnaria'', ''

Sarcophaga crassipalpis ''Sarcophaga crassipalpis'' is a species of flesh flies (insects in the family Sarcophagidae. It is a common laboratory animal used in the study of gene expression and the study of diapause in insects. ''Sarcophaga crassipalpis'' conforms to t ...

'', the friendly fly ''

Sarcophaga aldrichi The friendly fly or large flesh fly, ''Sarcophaga aldrichi'', is a fly that is a parasitoid of the forest tent caterpillar. It strongly resembles the house fly but is in a different family, the Sarcophagidae, or flesh-flies. It is a little lar ...

'' and the red-tailed flesh-fly ''

Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis ''Sarcophaga pernix'', also known as the red-tailed flesh fly, is a fly in the Flesh-fly, Sarcophagidae family. This fly often breeds in carrion and feces, making it a possible vector for disease. The larvae of this species can cause myiasis, as ...

''.

Subgenera

The immense number of ''Sarcophaga''

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

is divided among the following

subgenera In biology, a subgenus (plural: subgenera) is a taxonomic rank directly below genus. In the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed betwee ...

, some of which are occasionally considered (and may well be) distinct

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial ...

: *'' Aethianella'' Zumpt, 1972 *'' Aethiopisca'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Afrohelicobia'' Zumpt, 1972 *'' Afrothyrsocnema'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Alisarcophagaa'' Fan & Chen, 1981 *'' Amharomyia'' Verves, 1984 *'' Anthostilophalla'' Lehrer, 1993 *'' Asceloctella'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Asiopierretia'' Rohdendorf, 1965 *'' Australopierretia'' Verves, 1987 *'' Baliisca'' Verves, 1980 *'' Baranovisca'' Lopes, 1985 *'' Batissophalla'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Bellieriomima'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Bercaea'' ( Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863) *'' Bercaeopsis''

Townsend Townsend (pronounced tounʹ-zənd) or Townshend may refer to: Places United States *Camp Townsend, National Guard training base in Peekskill, New York *Townsend, Delaware *Townsend, Georgia *Townsend, Massachusetts, a New England town ** Townsend ...

, 1917 *'' Beziella'' Enderlein, 1937 *'' Bilenemyia'' Verves, 1989 *''

Boettcheria ''Boettcheria'' is a genus of flesh flies in the family Sarcophagidae. There are at least 20 described species in ''Boettcheria''. Species These 28 species belong to the genus ''Boettcheria'': *'' B. arnaudi'' Lopes, 1950 *'' B. aurifera'' Lope ...

'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Brasia'' Strand, 1932 *''

Caledonia Caledonia (; ) was the Latin name used by the Roman Empire to refer to the part of Great Britain () that lies north of the River Forth, which includes most of the land area of Scotland. Today, it is used as a romantic or poetic name for all ...

Curran Curran may refer to: People * Curran (surname) * Curran Oi (born 1990), an American figure skater Material * Curran (material) Places *Curran, community in Alfred and Plantagenet, Ontario, Canada ;Northern Ireland * Curran, County Londonderry ...

, 1929 *'' Callostuckenbergia'' Lehrer & Lehrer, 1992 *'' Camerounisca'' Verves, 1989 *'' Cercosarcophaga'' Zumpt, 1972 *'' Chaetophalla'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Chrysosarcophaga''

, 1933 *'' Curranisca'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Curtophalla'' Lehrer, 1994 *'' Cyclophalla'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Danbeckia'' Lehrer, 1994 *'' Dinemomyia'' Chen, 1975 *'' Diplonophalla'' Lehrer, 1994 *'' Discachaeta'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Drakensbergiana'' Lehrer, 1992 *'' Durbanella'' Lehrer, 1994 *'' Dysparaphalla'' Rohdendorf, 1965 *'' Fengia'' Rohdendorf, 1964 *'' Fergusonimyia'' Lopes, 1958 *'' Fijimyia'' Lopes & Kano, 1971 *'' Hadroxena'' Whitmore, Buenaventura & Pape, 2018 *'' Hardyella'' Lopes, 1959 *'' Harpagophalla'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Harpagophalloides'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Helicophagella'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Heteronychia''

Brauer Brauer or Bräuer is a surname of German origin, meaning "brewer". Notable people with the name include:- * Alfred Brauer (1894–1985), German-American mathematician, brother of Richard * Andreas Brauer (born 1973), German film producer * Arik ...

& Bergenstamm, 1889 *''

Hoa The Hoa people ( Vietnamese: ''Người Hoa'', or ) are citizens of Vietnam of full or partial Chinese origin. Chinese migration into Vietnam dates back millennia but most Hoa today derive their recent ancestral Chinese heritage from the 18t ...

'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Hosarcophaga'' Shinonaga & Tumrasvin, 1979 *'' Hyperacanthisca'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Ihosyia'' Verves, 1989 *'' Iranihindia'' Rohdendorf, 1961 *'' Johnsonimima'' Kano & Lopes, 1971 *'' Johnstonimyia'' Lopes, 1959 *'' Kalshovenella'' Baranov, 1941 *'' Kanoa'' Rohdendorf, 1965 *'' Kanomyia'' Shinonaga & Tumrasvin, 1979 *'' Kozlovea'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Kramerea'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Krameromyia'' Verves, 1982 *'' Leucomyia''

& von Bergenstamm, 1891 *'' Lipoptilocnema''

, 1934 *'' Lioplacella'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Lioproctia'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Liopygia'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Liosarcophaga'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Macabiella'' Lehrer, 1994 *'' Mandalania'' Lehrer, 1994 *'' Mauritiella'' Verves, 1989 *'' Mehria'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Mimarhopocnemis'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Mindanaoa'' Lopes & Kano, 1979 *'' Mufindia'' Verves, 1990 *'' Myorhina'' Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 *'' Neobellieria'' Blanchard, 1939 *'' Neosarcophaga'' Shewell, 1996 *'' Nesbittia'' Verves, 1989 *'' Nigerimyia'' Verves, 1989 *'' Nihonea'' Rohdendorf, 1965 *'' Notoecus''

Stein Stein is a German, Yiddish and Norwegian word meaning "stone" and "pip" or "kernel". It stems from the same Germanic root as the English word stone. It may refer to: Places In Austria * Stein, a neighbourhood of Krems an der Donau, Lower Au ...

, 1924 *'' Nudicerca'' Rohdendorf, 1965 *'' Nuzzaciella'' Lehrer, 1994 *'' Nyikamyia'' Lehrer, 1994 *'' Pandelleana'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Pandelleisca'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Paraethiopisca'' Zumpt, 1972 *'' Parasarcophaga'' Johnston & Tiegs, 1921 *'' Petuniophalla'' Lehrer, 1994 *'' Phalacrodiscus'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Phallantha'' Rohdendorf, 1938 *'' Phallanthisca'' Rohdendorf, 1965 *'' Phallocheira'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Phallonychia'' Verves, 1982 *'' Phallosphaera'' Rohdendorf, 1938 *'' Phytosarcophaga'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Poecilometopa'' Villeneuve, 1913 *'' Poeciphaoides'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Prionophalla'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Pseudaethiopisca'' Verves, 1989 *'' Pseudothyrsocnema'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Pterolobomyia'' Lehrer, 1992 *'' Pterophalla'' Rohdendorf, 1965 *'' Pterosarcophaga'' Ye, 1981 *'' Robineauella'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Rohdendorfisca'' Ye, 1981 *'' Rosellea'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Sabiella'' Verves, 1990 *''

Sarcophaga ''Sarcophaga'' is a genus of true flies and the type genus of the flesh-fly family (Sarcophagidae). The members of this cosmopolitan genus are frequently known as common flesh flies. This genus occurs essentially worldwide. These flies are gene ...

'' Meigen, 1826 *'' Sarcorohdendorfia'' Baranov, 1938 *'' Sarcosolomonia'' Baranov, 1938 *'' Sarcotachinella''

, 1892 *'' Scotathyrsia'' Enderlein, 1937 *'' Sinonipponia'' Rohdendorf, 1959 *'' Sisyhelicobia'' Zumpt, 1972 *'' Stackelbergeola'' Boris Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Takanoa'' Boris Rohdendorf, 1965 *'' Takaraia'' Kano & Field, 1963 *'' Taylorimyia'' Lopes, 1959 *'' Thyrsocnema'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Tolucamyia'' Dodge, 1965 *'' Torgopampa'' Lopes, 1975 *'' Transvaalomyia'' Lehrer, 1992 *'' Tuberomembrana'' Fan, 1981 *'' Uroxanthisca'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Varirosellea'' Xue, 1979 *'' Wohlfahrtiopsis''

, 1917 *'' Xanthopterisca'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Ziminisca'' Rohdendorf, 1965 *'' Zombanella'' Lehrer, 1992 *'' Zumptiopsis'' Lehrer & Lehrer, 1992 *'' Zumptisca'' Rohdendorf, 1963

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q1616496 Sarcophagidae Oestroidea genera Taxa named by Johann Wilhelm Meigen

Subgenera

References

Further reading

External links