Sexual-selection-model-organism
Guides
Scathophagidae
Dung Flies
Scathophagidae is a small family of calyptrate flies within the superfamily Muscoidea, comprising approximately 500 described species in 66 genera. Commonly called 'dung flies,' this name is misleading as only a few species in the genus Scathophaga actually develop in animal dung. The family exhibits diverse larval biology including plant feeding, aquatic predation, and predation on other insect larvae in moist organic substrates. Adults are predatory on small insects and are frequently observed hunting on flowers rather than pollinating. The family is predominantly distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, with exceptional diversity in the Russian Far East and strong representation in Arctic tundra habitats.