Scathophaga furcata

(Say, 1823)

Furcate Dung Fly

Scathophaga furcata is a in the , distributed across the Palearctic region. Larvae develop in , where they feed and complete their development. The has been documented as a significant prey item for nestling snow buntings.

Scathophaga furcata by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Scathophaga furcata by (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Scathophaga furcata by (c) Michael Knapp, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael Knapp. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Scathophaga furcata: //ˌskæθəˈfæɡə fərˈkɑːtə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Habitat

Associated with , particularly in environments where livestock or other large mammals are present. are found in proximity to dung pats where mating and oviposition occur.

Distribution

Palearctic region. Documented occurrences include Belgium, Brussels-Capital Region, Denmark, Norway, and Svalbard.

Diet

Larvae feed on . feeding habits are not explicitly documented for this .

Life Cycle

Females lay in . Larvae hatch and feed within the dung substrate, developing there until .

Behavior

Males have been observed defending pats from other males while intercepting receptive females for mating.

Ecological Role

Larvae contribute to decomposition. The serves as prey for birds, including nestling snow buntings.

Similar Taxa

Scathophaga stercorariaBoth are yellow in the same with similar , but S. stercoraria is generally larger and has a more uniformly golden, fuzzy appearance; males are more conspicuously territorial on pats.

More Details

Taxonomic note

Originally described as Pyropa furcata by Say in 1823, later transferred to Scathophaga.