Sarcophaga melanura

Meigen, 1826

flesh fly

Sarcophaga melanura is a of flesh fly in the Sarcophagidae, described by Meigen in 1826. The species belongs to the subgenus Helicophagella within the Sarcophaga. Like other members of Sarcophagidae, it exhibits the family's characteristic gray with three longitudinal black stripes and checkered abdominal patterning. Species-level identification in this genus requires examination of male genitalia due to the group's uniform external .

Sarcophaga melanura by (c) carnifex, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by carnifex. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Sarcophaga melanura: //sɑːrˈkɒfəɡə mɛˈlænjʊərə//

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Identification

Identification to requires examination of male terminalia, as external characters are insufficient for distinguishing Sarcophaga species. The Sarcophaga can be recognized by the combination of: gray with three longitudinal black stripes; checkered abdominal pattern; bearing two strong and two small setae (Calliphoridae have only two setae); and meron with a row of setae (absent in Muscidae). The subgenus Helicophagella is distinguished by specific genitalic structures.

Images

Distribution

Recorded from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden based on GBIF distribution data.

Similar Taxa

Tricharaea (Sarcophagula) occiduaBoth occur in the Neotropics and share similar external ; requires genitalic examination to distinguish
Oxysarcodexia variaCo-occurs in some and has similar flesh fly appearance; distinguished by male terminalia and subtle external differences