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Sarcophagidae

Pronunciation:  [Sar·ko·FA·ji⋅dae]

Common Name:  Flesh Flies

Description:   The sarcophagids are medium-sized flies with a distinct pattern of gray and black longitudinal stripes on the thorax and a checkerboard pattern on the abdomen.   The arista of the antenna is usually plumose only on its basal half (completely bare in a few species).     Adults feed on nectar, fruit juices, sap, or honeydew;  larvae usually feed in carrion or other decaying animal matter.

sarcophagid01

Spot ID Key Characters:

  1. Only basal half of antenna is plumose
  2. Black and gray longitudinal stripes on thorax
  3. Checkerboard pattern on abdomen
  4. Four notopleural bristles (short, long, short, long, from front to rear)

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Order:  Diptera