Coprophilous-insects

Guides

• Scathophaga

  Dung Flies, Yellow Dung Flies

  Scathophaga is a genus of small to medium-sized predatory flies in the family Scathophagidae, commonly known as dung flies. The genus includes approximately 99 described species, with Scathophaga stercoraria (the yellow dung fly) being the most extensively studied as a model organism in behavioral ecology and evolutionary biology. Adults are typically found in association with animal dung, where they engage in complex mating systems involving intense male-male competition and female mate choice. Larvae develop within dung or decaying organic matter, where they feed predaciously on other insect larvae.

  DipteraScathophagidaedung-fliespredatory-fliessexual-selectionsperm-competitionmodel-organismcryptic-female-choicebehavioral-ecologycoprophilous-insects