''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 nom ...

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 nominal ...

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 o ...

). 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 to ...

. 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 disti ...

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, a ...

. 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. ...

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 Cell (biology), biological cell. They constitute a large domain (biology), domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometr ...

and other small organisms living on carrion. 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 pests, 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 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 spe ...

. Others are parasitoids of pest caterpillars 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 ...

s. Well-known species are '' Sarcophaga africa'', ''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 crassipalpis'', the friendly fly '' Sarcophaga aldrichi'' and the red-tailed flesh-fly '' Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis''.

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, some of which are occasionally considered (and may well be) distinct genera: *'' 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'' Rohdendorf, 1937 *'' Brasia'' Strand, 1932 *'' Caledonia'' Curran, 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 & Bergenstamm, 1889 *'' Hoa'' 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'' Brauer & von Bergenstamm, 1891 *'' Lipoptilocnema''

, 1934 *'' Lioplacella'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Lioproctia'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Liopygia'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Liosarcophaga'' Enderlein, 1928 *'' Macabiella'' Lehrer, 1994 *'' Mandalania'' Lehrer, 1994 *''

Mauritiella ''Mauritiella'' is a dioecious genus of flowering plant in the palm family found in South America where it is commonly called buriti. It is named after the similar and closely related genus '' Mauritia''.Uhl, Natalie W. and Dransfield, John (198 ...

'' 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 Aust ...

, 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