Common Flesh Flies

Today I learned that those grey-and-black striped flies, with big red eyes, that scavenge for food are called Flesh Flies

And that it's almost impossible to tell what SPECIES you have, unless you examine their genitalia. I also imagine a genetic test would work, otherwise we wouldn't even know there's a difference between Carnaria and Bercaea and Nodosa.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesh_fly :
"Generally, only males of this family can reliably be identified to species, and then only by examination of dissected genitalia."

Posted on June 5, 2020 04:26 AM by chemistnate chemistnate

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Flesh Flies and Satellite Flies (Family Sarcophagidae)

Observer

chemistnate

Date

June 4, 2020 06:52 PM HST

Comments

After doing even more research, we can be sure these things are flesh flies but:

One can't be sure of a flesh fly's species unless you look at its genitalia (and sometimes not even then?)
Even "Common Flesh Fly" is a specific Genus and we can't be sure of that.

The family Sarcophagidae is as good as it gets, unless you caught it and want to dissect it.

Posted by chemistnate almost 4 years ago

INaturalist has updated this specific taxon.

All similar flesh flies are now groups as "Cryptic Group Sarcophagia Carnaria"; and people can no longer select the individual species.

Posted by chemistnate almost 4 years ago

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