Sarcophaga

Sarcophaga crassipalpis, copyright Lazaro A. Diaz.

Belongs within: Sarcophagini.
Contains: Sarcophaga (Heteronychia), Sarcophaga (Liosarcophaga), Sarcophaga (Sarcosolomonia), Sarcophaga (Sarcorohdendorfia).

Sarcophaga is a cosmopolitan genus of generally large flies. Circumscription of this genus relative to others in the Sarcophagidae has been subject to some change with authors differing on whether various sarcophagid taxa should be treated as subgenera of Sarcophaga or as separate genera. The phylogenetic analysis of calyptrate flies by Kutty et al. (2010) suggested the possibility of a basal divide between Old and New World species but more extensive analysis of the genus would be required to determine whether this suggestion holds true.

Most species of Sarcophaga feed as larvae on dead flesh, but some may facultatively attack living vertebrates (entering through necrotic wounds, for instance) and some have been reared from live invertebrate hosts (Askew 1971). One such North American species S. aldrichi, a parasitoid of the forest tent caterpillar Malacosoma disstria, is known as the 'friendly fly' due to its habit of settling on people and moving only reluctantly, though they do not bite. The common flesh fly S. carnaria of southern Europe has larvae that primarily feed on earthworms.

Characters (from Pape & Dahlem 2010): Male without proclinate orbital bristles. Prosternum not greatly widened anteriorly. Vein R₁ without setae dorsally; postalar wall setose on middle. Midtibia with one or more anterodorsal bristles; apical posteroventral bristle of hind tibia well differentiated, subequal in size to apical anteroventral bristle. Male midfemur without apical posteroventral ctenidium, stout bristles sometimes present but usually pointed and not so closely set; cerci with posterior profile in lateral view straight or nearly so on basal two-thirds, curved evenly forward distally, and spinelike setae, if present, directed dorsally, anterodorsally or anteriorly (cerci vertical); tergite 6 of female almost invariably incised or divided on midline, entire in species with longitudinal clear streak without microtrichia in cell cu₁, or in some species with ventral setulae on costal sector 3 (between tips of Sc and R₁); sternites 7-8 not fused, if so, sternite 8 divided, latter commonly in form of narrow transverse strip, sometimes membranous.

<==Sarcophaga Meigen 1826 [Sarcophagina] F92
    |--+--S. arizonica KP10
    |  `--S. triplasia Wulp 1896 KP10
    `--+--+--S. (Australopierretia) australis (Johnston & Tiegs 1921) MD13, KP10 (see below for synonymy)
       |  `--+--S. marshalli Parker 1923 KP10
       |     `--+--S. fertoni Villeneuve 1911 KP10
       |        `--S. (Sarcorohdendorfia) KP10
       `--+--+--S. forma Blackith & Pape 1999 KP10
          |  `--S. setinervis Rondani 1860 KP10
          `--S. (Liopygia) MD13 [incl. Jantia Rohdendorf 1937 S87, Thomsonea Rohdendorf 1937 S87]
               |--‘Parasarcophaga (Thomsonea)’ argyrostoma L59
               |--S. (L.) crassipalpis Macquart 1839 KP10, S87, KP10 (see below for synonymy)
               `--S. (L.) ruficornis (Fabricius 1794) MD13 [=Musca ruficornis MD13, Parasarcophaga (L.) ruficornis F92]

Sarcophaga incertae sedis:
  S. agnata A71
  S. aldrichi [=Arachnidomyia aldrichi] PD10
  S. barbata A71
  S. bullata WT11
  S. caridei Brèthes 1906 B06
  S. depressa (Desvoidy 1830) [=Myophora depressa] L59
  S. destructor A71
  S. filia A71
  S. flavifemorata Macquart 1850 L59
  S. flavifrons BM76
  S. guerula T90
  S. houghi H38
  S. inscisilobata A71
  S. johnsoni [=Wohlfartiopsis johnsoni] PD10
  S. kellyi A71
  S. lambens B06
  S. montanensis Hallock 1938 H38
  S. polistensis PD10
  S. socrus K01
  S. setipennis A71
  S. uncata B06
  S. variegata (Scopoli 19763) [=Musca variegata] F92
  *S. (Sarcophaga) carnaria (Linnaeus 1758) [=Musca carnaria] F92
  ‘Parasarcophaga’ (Apicamplexa Fan & Qian in Fan 1992) F92
    |--P. (*A.) emdeni Rohdendorf 1969 (see below for synonymy) F92
    `--P. (A.) kirgizica Rohdendorf 1969 F92
  S. (Baranovisca) MD13
    |--S. (B.) arachnivora (Lopes 1985) [=Baranovisca arachnivora] MD13
    |--S. (B.) cyrtophorae (Cantrell 1986) [=Parasarcophaga cyrtophorae] MD13
    `--S. (B.) reposita (Lopes 1959) MD13 [=Parasarcophaga reposita MD13, P. (Rosellea) reposita L59]
  S. (Bercaea Robineau-Desvoidy 1863) MD13, F92 [incl. Coprosarcophaga Rohdendorf 1937 F92]
    |--S. (B.) cruentata Meigen 1826 F92 (see below for synonymy)
    `--S. (B.) africa (Wiedemann 1824) [=Musca africa] MD13
  S. (Boettcherisca Rohdendorf 1937) MD13, L59 [Boettcheriscina F92]
    |--S. (*B.) peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy 1830) MD13, L59, MD13 (see below for synonymy)
    |--‘Boettcherisca’ formosensis Kirner & Lopes 1961 [incl. B. chianshanensis Ma 1964] F92
    |--‘Boettcherisca’ karnyi (Hardy 1927) F92
    `--‘Boettcherisca’ septentrionalis Rohdendorf 1937 [=B. (Notochaetomima) septentrionalis] F92
  S. (Curranea) F92
    |--‘Parasarcophaga’ (C.) hinglungensis Fan 1964 F92
    |--S. (C.) iwuensis Ho 1934 [=Parasarcophaga (C.) iwuensis] F92
    |--S. (C.) scopariiformis Senior-White 1927 (see below for synonymy) F92
    `--‘Parasarcophaga’ (C.) yunnanensis Fan 1964 F92
  S. (Fergusonimyia Lopes 1958) MD13, L59
    `--S. (*F.) bancroftorum (Johnston & Tiegs 1921) MD13, L59 (see below for synonymy)
  S. (Hardyella Lopes 1959) MD13, L59
    `--S. (*H.) littoralis Johnston & Tiegs 1922 MD13, L59 (see below for synonymy)
  S. (Heteronychia) MD13
  ‘Parasarcophaga’ (Jantiella) doleschalli Johnston & Tiegs 1921 (see below for synonymy) F92
  S. (Johnstonimyia Lopes 1959) MD13, L59
    |--S. (*J.) kappa Johnston & Tiegs 1921 [incl. S. illingworthi Parker 1922] L59
    |--‘Johnstonimyia’ imitatrix Lopes 1959 L59
    `--S. (J.) lincta Lopes 1959 MD13
  S. (Kanoisca) kanoi (Park 1962) [=Parasarcophaga (K.) kanoi] F92
  S. (Lioproctia) MD13
    |--S. (L.) alcicornis Hardy 1932 MD13
    |--S. (L.) imita Pape 1996 [=Johnstonimyia imitatrix Lopes 1959 (preoc.)] MD13
    |--S. (L.) multicolor Johnston & Tiegs 1922 MD13, L59 [=Johnstonimyia multicolor L59]
    |--S. (L.) spinifera Hardy 1932 MD13, L59 [=Johnstonimyia spinifera L59]
    `--S. (L.) torvida (Lopes 1959) MD13, L59 [=Johnstonimyia torvida L59]
  S. (Liosarcophaga) MD13
  S. (Pandelleisca) F92
    |--S. (P.) kawayuensis Kano 1950 [=Parasarcophaga (P.) kawayuensis] F92
    |--S. (P.) pingi Ho 1934 [=Parasarcophaga (P.) pingi] F92
    |--‘Parasarcophaga’ (P.) polystylata (Ho 1934) F92
    `--S. (P.) similis Meade 1876 [=‘Parasarcophaga (P.) similis] F92
  S. (Parasarcophaga Johnston & Tiegs 1921) MD13, L59 [Parasarcophagina F92]
    |--S. (P.) taenionota (Wiedemann 1819) MD13 (see below for synonymy)
    |--S. (P.) albiceps Meigen 1826 MD13
    |--S. (P.) macroauriculata Ho 1932 F92
    |--S. (P.) misera Walker 1849 MD13, L59 (see below for synonymy)
    |--S. (P.) sericea Walker 1852 F92 [incl. S. knabi Parker 1917 F92, Parasarcophaga knabi CM74]
    |--S. (P.) taenionota MD13
    `--‘Parasarcophaga’ (P.) unguitigris Rohdendorf 1938 F92
  S. (Poseidonimyia) simplex (Lopes 1967) [=Heteronychia simplex] MD13
  S. (Rosellea Rohdendorf 1937) L59
    |--S. (*R.) aratrix (Pandellé 1896) [=Parasarcophaga (*R.) aratrix] L59
    |--S. (R.) gigas Thomas 1949 [=Parasarcophaga (R.) gigas; incl. S. koreaensis Park & Kano 1961] F92
    |--S. (R.) khasiensis Senior-White 1924 [=Parasarcophaga (R.) khasiensis] F92
    `--‘Parasarcophaga’ (R.) praelibera Lopes 1959 L59
  S. (Sarcosolomonia) MD13
  S. (Taylorimyia Lopes 1959) MD13, L59
    `--S. (T.) aurifrons Macquart 1846 MD13 (see below for synonymy)
  S. (Varirosellea) uliginosa Kramer 1908 F92 [=Parasarcophaga (Rosellea) uliginosa L59]
  S. (Ziminisca) semenovi Rohdendorf 1925 [=Parasarcophaga (Z.) semenovi; incl. S. linearis Vill. 1935] F92

‘Parasarcophaga’ (*Apicamplexa) emdeni Rohdendorf 1969 [=P. (Liosarcophaga) teretirostris Rohdendorf 1937 non Pandellé 1896] F92

‘Parasarcophaga’ (Jantiella) doleschalli Johnston & Tiegs 1921 [incl. Robineauella (J.) coei Rohdendorf 1966, P. coei] F92

Sarcophaga (Australopierretia) australis (Johnston & Tiegs 1921) MD13, KP10 [=Helicobia australis L59, Heteronychia australis L59, Pierretia australis L59]

Sarcophaga (Bercaea) cruentata Meigen 1826 F92 [incl. Musca haemorrhoidalis Fallén 1817 non Villers 1789 F92, *Bercaea haemorrhoidalis F92, Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis A71]

Sarcophaga (*Boettcherisca) peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy 1830) MD13, L59, MD13 [=Myophora peregrina L59; incl. S. fuscicauda Bottcher 1912 F92]

Sarcophaga (Curranea) scopariiformis Senior-White 1927 [=Parasarcophaga (C.) scopariiformis; incl. S. pingiana Hsieh 1958] F92

Sarcophaga (*Fergusonimyia) bancroftorum (Johnston & Tiegs 1921) MD13, L59 [=Sarcophaga bancrofti L59; incl. S. horti Blackith & Blackith 1988 MD13]

Sarcophaga (*Hardyella) littoralis Johnston & Tiegs 1922 MD13, L59 [incl. S. ogalloyi Salen 1945 L59, S. ogilvyi Salem 1946 MD13]

Sarcophaga (Liopygia) crassipalpis Macquart 1839 KP10, S87, KP10 [=Parasarcophaga (Jantia) crassipalpis L59; incl. S. dalmatina Schiner 1862 L59, S. securifera Villeneuve in Becker 1908 L59, Bellieria securifera L59, Parasarcophaga (Jantia) securifera L59]

Sarcophaga (Parasarcophaga) misera Walker 1849 MD13, L59 [=Parasarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) misera L59; incl. S. brunneopalpis Johnston & Tiegs 1922 MD13, S. ceylonensis Curran 1929 L59, S. gamma Johnston & Tiegs 1921 MD13, S. noumea Curran 1929 L59, S. orchidea Boettcher 1913 F92, S. hirtypes orchidea L59, S. (Parasarcophaga) orchidea L59, S. subtuberosa Parker 1917 L59]

Sarcophaga (Parasarcophaga) taenionota (Wiedemann 1819) MD13 [=Musca taenionota MD13; incl. S. (*P.) omega Johnston & Tiegs 1921 L59, MD13]

Sarcophaga (Taylorimyia) aurifrons Macquart 1846 MD13 [=Parasarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) aurifrons L59; incl. S. iota Johnston & Tiegs 1921 MD13, S. (*Taylorimyia) iota L59, Myophora musca Desvoidy 1830 (n. d.) L59]

*Type species of generic name indicated

REFERENCES

[A71] Askew, R. R. 1971. Parasitic Insects. Heinemann Educational Books: London.

[BM76] Bohart, R. M., & A. S. Menke. 1976. Sphecid Wasps of the World. University of California Press: Berkeley.

[B06] Brèthes, J. 1906. Sarcophaga caridei, una nueva mosca langosticida. Anales del Museo Nacional de Buenos Aires, serie 3, 6: 297–301.

[CM74] Colless, D. H., & D. K. McAlpine. 1974. Diptera (flies). In: CSIRO. The Insects of Australia: A textbook for students and research workers. Supplement 1974 pp. 91–96. Melbourne University Press.

[F92] Fan Z. 1992. Key to the Common Flies of China 2^nd ed. Science Press: Beijing.

[H38] Hallock, H. C. 1938. New Sarcophaginae (Diptera). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 40 (4): 95–99.

[K01] Kertész, K. 1901. Legyek [Dipteren]. In: Horváth, G. (ed.) Zichy Jenő Gróf Harmadik Ázsiai Utazása [Dritte Asiatische Forschungsreise des Grafen Eugen Zichy] vol. 2. Zichy Jenő Gróf Harmadik Ázsiai Utazásának Állattani Eredményei [Zoologische Ergebnisse der Dritten Asiatischen Forschungsreise des Grafen Eugen Zichy] pp. 179–201. Victor Hornyánszky: Budapest, and Karl W. Hierseman: Leipzig.

[KP10] Kutty, S. N., T. Pape, B. M. Wiegmann & R. Meier. 2010. Molecular phylogeny of the Calyptratae (Diptera: Cyclorrhapha) with an emphasis on the superfamily Oestroidea and the position of Mystacinobiidae and McAlpine's fly. Systematic Entomology 35: 614–635.

[L59] Lopes, H. de S. 1959. A revision of Australian Sarcophagidae (Diptera). Studia Ent. 2 (1–4): 33–67.

[MD13] Meiklejohn, K. A., M. Dowton, T. Pape & J. F. Wallman. 2013. A key to the Australian Sarcophagidae (Diptera) with special emphasis on Sarcophaga (sensu lato). Zootaxa 3680 (1): 148–189.

[PD10] Pape, T., & G. A. Dahlem. 2010. Sarcophagidae (flesh flies). In: Brown, B. V., A. Borkent, J. M. Cumming, D. M. Wood, N. E. Woodley & M. A. Zumbado (eds) Manual of Central American Diptera vol. 2 pp. 1313–1335. NRC Research Press: Ottawa.

[S87] Shewell, G. E. 1987. Sarcophagidae. In: McAlpine, J. F. (ed.) Manual of Nearctic Diptera vol. 2 pp. 1159–1186. Research Branch, Agriculture Canada.

[T90] Teskey, H. J. 1990. Insecta: Diptera larvae. In: Dindal, D. L. (ed.) Soil Biology Guide pp. 1253–1276. John Wiley & Sones: New York.

[WT11] Wiegmann, B. M., M. D. Trautwein, I. S. Winkler, N. B. Barr, J.-W. Kim, C. Lambkin, M. A. Bertone, B. K. Cassel, K. M. Bayless, A. M. Heimberg, B. M. Wheeler, K. J. Peterson, T. Pape, B. J. Sinclair, J. H. Skevington, V. Blagoderov, J. Caravas, S. N. Kutty, U. Schmidt-Ott, G. E. Kampmeier, F. C. Thompson, D. A. Grimaldi, A. T. Beckenbach, G. W. Courtney, M. Friedrich, R. Meier & D. K. Yeates. 2011. Episodic radiations in the fly tree of life. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 108 (14): 5690–5695.

Last updated: 15 November 2019.