Dung flies

Definition

A vernacular collective term for flies whose larvae develop in animal dung or decaying organic matter, most commonly applied to members of the families Scathophagidae (dung flies, including the widespread yellow dung fly Scathophaga stercoraria) and Sphaeroceridae (lesser dung flies). The term is ecologically descriptive rather than taxonomically precise; while some species are strictly coprophagous, others occupy broader niches including decaying vegetation, fungi, or carrion. Dung flies serve important ecosystem functions in nutrient cycling and are frequently used in behavioral ecology research, particularly studies of male-male competition and mate choice at ephemeral resource patches.

Etymology

From Middle English dung (excrement) + fly, referring to the larval habitat.

Example

Male yellow dung flies (Scathophaga stercoraria) defend fresh cowpats as mating territories, with body size determining both fighting success and thermal tolerance at the dung surface.

Synonyms

• coprophilous flies

Related Terms

• Scathophagidae
• Sphaeroceridae
• Coprophagy
• saprobiont
• Muscidae
• Blow flies
• carrion ecology

Usage Notes

The term is applied inconsistently across regions and literature. In North America, "dung fly" often refers specifically to Scathophagidae, while European usage may include Sphaeroceridae. Specialists generally prefer family-level precision (Scathophagidae, Sphaeroceridae, or Muscidae for house-fly relatives in dung) because life histories vary substantially. Contrast with "filth flies" (public health focus) and "carrion flies" (carcass specialists). Some Scathophagidae larvae are predatory rather than coprophagous, making the common name misleading for those species.