Orygma luctuosum

Meigen, 1830

A small European fly in the Sepsidae, restricted to coastal wrack zones where larvae develop in decaying seaweed. The shows a disjunct distribution with in northwestern Europe. are active during warmer months.

Orygma luctuosum (Sepsidae) - (male imago), Boswachterij Westerschouwen, the Netherlands by This image is created by user B. Schoenmakers at Waarneming.nl, a source of nature observations in the Netherlands. . Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.Orygma luctuosa (illustration by Meigen, 1790) by Johann Wilhelm Meigen (1764-1845). Used under a Public domain license.Orygma luctuosum (Sepsidae) - (male imago), Boswachterij Westerschouwen, the Netherlands - 2 by This image is created by user B. Schoenmakers at Waarneming.nl, a source of nature observations in the Netherlands. . Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Orygma luctuosum: //ɒˈrɪɡmə lʌkˈtjuːəsəm//

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Images

Habitat

Coastal wrack zone; larvae develop in decaying seaweed and marine debris accumulated at the high tide line.

Distribution

Northwestern Europe: United Kingdom, Belgium (including Zeebrugge), and Germany (marine zones).

Ecological Role

Decomposer in coastal marine ; larvae process decaying macroalgae and organic matter in wrack deposits.

Similar Taxa

  • Sepsidae (family)Other sepsid flies share general body plan but differ in —most Sepsidae are associated with or carrion rather than marine wrack.

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Sources and further reading