Piophila

Fallén, 1810

cheese flies, wine flies

Species Guides

Piophila casei(cheese skipper)

Piophila is a of small dipteran flies in the Piophilidae, comprising two : Piophila casei (the cheese fly or ham skipper) and Piophila megastigmata. Both species are carrion feeders with forensic importance, and P. casei is a significant pest of cured meat and cheese products. The genus occurs in the Palearctic and has been introduced to other regions.

Piophila by (c) Andrew Meeds, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Meeds. Used under a CC-BY license.

Piophila casei by (c) Andrew Meeds, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Meeds. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Piophila: //paɪˈɒfɪlə//

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

Identification

Small dark flies with unmarked wings. Setulae on the are confined to three distinct rows.

Images

Habitat

Natural and periurban environments with carrion; also occurs in anthropogenic settings including ham production facilities and cheese storage areas.

Distribution

Palearctic region (native); recorded from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the United States (Vermont). Piophila megastigmata previously known only from South Africa, now recorded from central Spain as first Palaearctic occurrence.

Diet

Carrion and decaying organic matter; larvae feed on high-protein substrates including carcasses, cured ham, and cheese.

Life Cycle

Development strongly influenced by temperature and food substrate. Minimum development threshold approximately 9.91°C. Accumulated degree days (oviposition to ) range from 209–221 depending on temperature.

Behavior

Oviposition induced by bacterial presence, particularly Proteus vulgaris. Larvae are to gastric juices.

Ecological Role

Forensic indicator for estimating time since death; participates in carrion .

Human Relevance

P. casei is a major pest of cured meat and cheese products, causing direct damage and vectoring bacteria including Clostridium botulinum. Larval ingestion can cause myiasis in humans. Used in to determine postmortem interval.