Dung-flies
Guides
Americina
Americina is a genus of dung flies in the family Scathophagidae, established by Malloch in 1923. The genus belongs to the subfamily Delininae and contains at least one described species, A. adusta. Scathophagidae, commonly known as dung flies, are predatory or coprophagous flies often associated with vertebrate dung.
Bucephalina megacephala
Bucephalina megacephala is a species of dung fly in the family Scathophagidae, described by Loew in 1870. The genus name refers to the enlarged head structure characteristic of this group. As a member of Scathophagidae, it belongs to a family commonly known as dung flies or predatory dung flies, which are primarily associated with decaying organic matter. The specific epithet 'megacephala' (meaning 'large-headed') indicates a prominent morphological feature of this species.
Ceratinostoma
Ceratinostoma is a genus of dung flies in the family Scathophagidae, established by Meade in 1885. The genus contains at least one described species, C. ostiorum. These flies belong to a family whose larvae primarily develop in dung or decaying organic matter. The genus has been recorded from northern Europe including Norway and Sweden.
Copromyza
lesser dung flies
Copromyza is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. The genus was established by Fallén in 1810 and currently contains 11 described species. Members of this genus are associated with decaying organic matter and dung. The genus is classified within the subfamily Copromyzinae.
Cordilura
Cordilura is a large genus of dung flies (Scathophagidae) comprising approximately 90 species worldwide. The genus is primarily distributed across the Holarctic region, with the greatest diversity in the Palaearctic and Nearctic regions. Larvae are known to serve as prey for predatory insects such as Orthacheta hirtipes.
Cordilura confusa
Cordilura confusa is a species of dung fly in the family Scathophagidae, described by Loew in 1863. The genus Cordilura comprises flies commonly associated with wetland and riparian habitats. As with other members of Scathophagidae, adults are predatory. The species name "confusa" suggests historical taxonomic uncertainty, though specific details about the nature of this confusion are not documented in available sources.
Ernoneura
Ernoneura is a genus of flies in the family Scathophagidae, commonly known as dung flies. The genus was established by Becker in 1894 and is classified within the subfamily Scathophaginae. It contains relatively few described species and is poorly represented in collections and observations.
Gymnochiromyia concolor
Gymnochiromyia concolor is a species of fly in the family Chyromyidae, a small family of acalyptrate Diptera commonly known as "dung flies" or "yellow flies." Originally described as Chyromya concolor by Malloch in 1914, it was later transferred to the genus Gymnochiromyia. Members of Chyromyidae are typically associated with decomposing organic matter. The species is known from relatively few observations, with 25 records documented on iNaturalist.
Hydromyza
Hydromyza is a genus of dung flies in the family Scathophagidae, established by Fallén in 1813. The genus contains at least three described species: H. confluens, H. glabra, and H. livens. Members of this genus are found in northern Europe, with records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. As scathophagid flies, they are associated with dung habitats, though specific ecological details remain limited.
Leptopa
Leptopa is a genus of scathophagid flies (Diptera: Scathophagidae) established by Zetterstedt in 1838. The genus was recently resurrected as a senior synonym of Parallelomma (Ozerov & Krivosheina, 2023). It occurs primarily in the Palearctic region, with documented species from Japan, Korea, and northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. At least four species are recognized from Japan, including two recently described species: L. kanmiyai and L. yezonica. The genus belongs to the subfamily Delininae within the dung fly family Scathophagidae.
Nearcticorpus
Nearcticorpus is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. The genus was described in 1982 by Roháček and Marshall. It contains two known species, both described from the Nearctic region. The genus name reflects its geographic distribution.
Norrbomia sordida
Norrbomia sordida is a species of small dung fly in the family Sphaeroceridae, originally described as Copromyza sordida by Zetterstedt in 1847. The species has undergone taxonomic revision, with some authorities placing it in the genus Borborillus as B. sordidus. It is known from Hawaii and represents one of the few documented occurrences of this genus in the Pacific region. Sphaeroceridae are among the smallest true flies and are primarily associated with decomposing organic matter.
Plethochaeta
Plethochaeta is a genus of dung flies in the family Scathophagidae, established by Daniel William Coquillett in 1901. The genus belongs to the subfamily Scathophaginae and contains species whose biology remains poorly documented. Members of this genus are part of the diverse assemblage of calyptrate flies associated with decomposing organic matter.
Robustagramma
lesser dung flies
Robustagramma is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae (lesser dung flies), established in 2005 by Marshall & Cui. It comprises 54 species arranged in 8 species groups, of which 52 were described as new in the original monograph. The genus is distributed from Canada to Argentina and represents a distinctive clade within the subfamily Limosininae.
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.
Sphaeroceridae
lesser dung flies, small dung flies, lesser corpse flies
Sphaeroceridae is a family of true flies (Diptera) in the section Schizophora, subsection Acalyptratae. The family contains over 1,300 species in approximately 125 genera, making it a diverse group of small to minute flies. Members are characterized by saprophagous habits, typically associated with decomposing organic matter including dung, carrion, and decaying plant material. They occur worldwide except in regions with permanent ice cover.
Synchysa tricincta
Synchysa tricincta is a species of dung fly in the family Scathophagidae, originally described as Coenosia tricincta by Loew in 1869. The species is accepted and has been recorded from Vermont and other parts of the United States. As a member of Scathophagidae, it is likely associated with dung or decaying organic matter habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in available sources.