Turtle-nest-exploitation
Guides
Tripanurga importuna
Tripanurga importuna is a sarcophagid fly specialized in locating and developing in carrion buried in sand. The species has a documented facultative association with freshwater turtle nests, where females deposit larvae primarily during hatching periods. Larvae preferentially scavenge necrotic tissue and damaged eggs, but will opportunistically prey upon live embryos and hatchlings. The species is considered a habitat specialist but food opportunist, capable of developing on various buried carrion sources.