Sarcophaga | |
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Sarcophaga africa | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Family: | Sarcophagidae |
Subfamily: | Sarcophaginae |
Genus: | Sarcophaga Meigen, 1826 [1] |
Type species | |
Sarcophaga carnaria |
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 generally well-sized and of a greyish color; like many of their relatives, the typical patterns are lengthwise darker stripes on the thorax and dark and light square dots on the abdomen. Many have conspicuous red compound eyes. 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 examination of the males' genitalia. [3]
As the common name implies, their larvae typically feed on decaying meat. Some, however, instead eat the bacteria and other small organisms living on carrion. Many species have adapted to humans, and while they are usually nuisance pests, some are medically significant vectors of pathogens and bacteria. Sometimes, the larvae cause myiasis. Others are parasitoids of pest caterpillars and beneficial in forestry and orchards.
Well-known species are Sarcophaga africa , Sarcophaga bercaea, the grey flesh-fly Sarcophaga bullata , Sarcophaga carnaria , Sarcophaga crassipalpis , the friendly fly Sarcophaga aldrichi and the red-tailed flesh-fly Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis .
The immense number of Sarcophaga species is divided among the following subgenera, some of which are occasionally considered (and may well be) distinct genera:
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 open wounds of mammals, hence their common name. Some flesh fly larvae are internal parasites of other insects such as Orthoptera, and some, in particular the Miltogramminae, are kleptoparasites of solitary Hymenoptera. The adults mostly feed on fluids from animal bodies, nectar, sweet foods, fluids from animal waste and other organic substances. Juveniles need protein to develop and may be laid on carrion, dung or sweet plant foods.
Cluster flies are flies of the genus Pollenia in the family Polleniidae. Unlike the more familiar blow flies, such as the bluebottle genus Phormia, they are completely harmless to human health because they do not lay eggs in human food. They are parasitic on earthworms; the females lay their eggs near earthworm burrows, and the larvae then feed on the worms. But the biology of this group is relatively poorly known and a few have been recorded from other hosts including caterpillars and bees.
Fritz Konrad Ernst Zumpt was a German entomologist who worked mainly in Ethiopia, but also to a lesser extent in Uganda, Ghana and Mozambique. He is best known for his work on Diptera and the associations between insects and African mammals, as well as for his work on myiasis.
Sarcofahrtiopsis is a genus of small flesh flies. Most are known from the Antilles and Central America. Many species feed on semiterrestrial crabs of the genus Cardisoma or are associated with bats.
Helicobia is a genus of flesh flies in the family Sarcophagidae. There are at least 30 described species in Helicobia.
Sarcophaginae is a subfamily of flesh flies. There are at least 60 genera and 250 described species in Sarcophaginae.
Senotainia is a genus of satellite flies in the family Sarcophagidae. There are more than 70 described species in Senotainia.
Wohlfahrtia is a genus of flesh flies in the family Sarcophagidae. There are at least 20 described species in Wohlfahrtia.
Paramacronychiinae is a subfamily of flesh flies.
Taxigramma is a genus of satellite flies in the family Sarcophagidae. There are about 18 described species in Taxigramma.
Asiosarcophila kaszabi is a species of true flies in the family Sarcophagidae.
Turanomyia kaszabi is a species of true flies in the family Sarcophagidae.
Rhiniidae is a family of flies in the order Diptera, and formerly included in the Calliphoridae. There are around 30 genera and 370 described species in Rhiniidae.>
Angiometopa is a genus of true flies in the family Sarcophagidae.
Brachicoma is a genus of true flies in the family Sarcophagidae.
Goniophyto is a genus of true flies in the family Sarcophagidae.
Sarcophila is a genus of true flies in the family Sarcophagidae.
P. S. Nathan, P. Susai Nathan or P. Susainathan was an Indian naturalist, entomologist and a natural history specimen collector and dealer. His natural history business was continued by his daughter-in-law Theresa Rajabai Susai Nathan and still later by her daughter-in-law Nellie J.P. Nathan. A number of species are named after the collections made by him and his family.