''Sarcophaga'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

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 of the flesh-fly

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

( 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 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 cre ...

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 torso. ...

. 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 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 (optics), lens or microscope to see them clearly. In physics, the microscopic scale is sometimes regarded a ...

examination of the males' genitalia. 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. The ...

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 among ...

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, c ...

. 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 germ ...

s and bacteria. Sometimes, the larvae cause myiasis. Others are

parasitoid In evolutionary ecology, a parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host (biology), host at the host's expense, eventually resulting in the death of the host. Parasitoidism is one of six major evolutionarily stable str ...

s of pest

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

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. Th ...

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 larg ...

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 sp ...

'', ''

Sarcophaga carnaria ''Sarcophaga carnaria'' is a European(globalized) species of flesh fly within the common flesh fly genus, ''Sarcophaga''. Identification Only males can be identified with certainty, and then only by examining genitalia. Biology Larvae mostly fee ...

'', ''

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 th ...

'', 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 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 well as ac ...

''.

Subgenera

The immense number of ''Sarcophaga''

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of 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 the appropriate s ...

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 between t ...

, 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 nomenclat ...

: *'' Aethianella'' Zumpt, 1972 *'' Aethiopisca'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Afrohelicobia'' Zumpt, 1972 *'' Afrothyrsocnema'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Alisarcophagaa'' Fan & Chen, 1981 *'' Amharomyia'' Verves, 1984 *'' Anthostilophalla''

Lehrer Lehrer, alternatively Lehr, Lehrian or Lehrmann, is a surname that can be either Germanic or Jewish. Origin Teacher The most probable option for the origin of the Lehrer surname is from the word ''Lehrer'', meaning teacher or rabbi in the Germ ...

, 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 André Jean Baptiste Robineau-Desvoidy (1 January 1799 in Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye – 25 June 1857 in Paris) was a French physician and entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera (flies) and to some extent of the Coleoptera (beetles). Ach ...

, 1863) *'' Bercaeopsis'' 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, 1992 *'' Camerounisca'' Verves, 1989 *'' Cercosarcophaga'' Zumpt, 1972 *'' Chaetophalla'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Chrysosarcophaga'' Townsend, 1933 *'' Curranisca'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Curtophalla''

, 1994 *'' Cyclophalla'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Danbeckia''

, 1994 *'' Dinemomyia'' Chen, 1975 *'' Diplonophalla''

, 1994 *'' Discachaeta'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Drakensbergiana''

, 1992 *'' Durbanella''

, 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 18th ...

'' 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'' Townsend, 1934 *'' Lioplacella'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Lioproctia'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Liopygia'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Liosarcophaga'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Macabiella''

, 1994 *'' Mandalania''

, 1994 *'' Mauritiella'' Verves, 1989 *'' Mehria'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Mimarhopocnemis'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Mindanaoa'' Lopes & Kano, 1979 *'' Mufindia'' Verves, 1990 *'' Myorhina''

, 1830 *'' Neobellieria'' Blanchard, 1939 *'' Neosarcophaga'' Shewell, 1996 *'' Nesbittia'' Verves, 1989 *'' Nigerimyia'' Verves, 1989 *'' Nihonea'' Rohdendorf, 1965 *'' Notoecus'' Stein, 1924 *'' Nudicerca'' Rohdendorf, 1965 *'' Nuzzaciella''

, 1994 *'' Nyikamyia''

, 1994 *'' Pandelleana'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Pandelleisca'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Paraethiopisca'' Zumpt, 1972 *'' Parasarcophaga'' Johnston & Tiegs, 1921 *'' Petuniophalla''

, 1994 *'' Phalacrodiscus'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Phallantha'' Rohdendorf, 1938 *'' Phallanthisca'' Rohdendorf, 1965 *'' Phallocheira'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Phallonychia'' Verves, 1982 *'' Phallosphaera'' Rohdendorf, 1938 *'' Phytosarcophaga'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Poecilometopa''

Villeneuve Villeneuve, LaVilleneuve or deVilleneuve may refer to: People * Villeneuve (surname) Places Australia * Villeneuve, Queensland, a town in the Somerset Region Canada * Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a Formula One racetrack in Montréal * Villeneuv ...

, 1913 *'' Poeciphaoides'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Prionophalla'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Pseudaethiopisca'' Verves, 1989 *'' Pseudothyrsocnema'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Pterolobomyia''

, 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'' Townsend, 1892 *'' Scotathyrsia'' Enderlein, 1937 *'' Sinonipponia'' Rohdendorf, 1959 *'' Sisyhelicobia'' Zumpt, 1972 *'' Stackelbergeola''

Boris Rohdendorf Boris Borisovich Rohdendorf (russian: link=no, Борис Борисович Родендорф, 12 July 190421 November 1977) was a Soviet entomologist and curator at the Zoological Museum at the University of Moscow. He attained the position of ...

, 1937 *'' Takanoa''

, 1965 *'' Takaraia'' Kano & Field, 1963 *'' Taylorimyia'' Lopes, 1959 *'' Thyrsocnema'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Tolucamyia'' Dodge, 1965 *'' Torgopampa'' Lopes, 1975 *'' Transvaalomyia''

, 1992 *'' Tuberomembrana'' Fan, 1981 *'' Uroxanthisca'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Varirosellea'' Xue, 1979 *'' Wohlfahrtiopsis'' Townsend, 1917 *'' Xanthopterisca'' Rohdendorf, 1963 *'' Ziminisca'' Rohdendorf, 1965 *'' Zombanella''

, 1992 *'' Zumptiopsis''

& 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