Common Flesh Fly (Sarcophaga carnaria)

Click on a thumbnail to see the large picture (around 800 X 600 pixels).

Copyright of all pictures: Hania and Hans Arentsen. Do not use without written consent.

In order to get consent mail Hans (info@gardensafari.net) or Hania (photog@gardensafari.net).

Within Sarcophaga there are a few species that do look like another very much. They can only be told apart after microscopic investigations. We don't do that kind of stuff, for it would involve killing the animal. It is for this reason we do warn you: it is not fully certain that the depicted flies on this page actually are Sarcophaga carnaria. They could be of one or more of the look a likes.

Nowadays we know that the larvae of the Common Flesh Fly eat other larvae in decaying flesh, not the flesh itself.

This page was created on August 23rd 2002 and last updated: August 3rd, 2004.