Overview

This LUCID key allows for the identification of all adult Australian Sarcophaga s.l. species. Through the use of a fully interactive matrix-based key, rapid identification of both sexes for over 50 species is possible.

Photographs or illustrations for all characters are incorporated throughout the key, facilitating straight-forward identifications.

Characters are available for selection from the head, thorax, wing, abdomen & terminalia.

To facilitate the straight-forward identification to the subfamily and subsequently the sarcophagine genera, upon opening the LUCID key only certain characters are available for selection. After a specimen has been identified as belonging to the genus Sarcophaga s.l. and the sex is correctly determined, all pertinent morphological characters become available for selection.

For information on how to use LUCID, please see the link below.

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Fact Sheets

Information for each species, with regards to their taxonomy, distribution and biology, are provided in fact sheets accesible within the key. Also included in the fact sheets are a lateral photograph of each species, along with illustrations and photographs of the male terminalia. Please note that the terminalia illustrations included have been sourced from a range of manuscripts, with a full list of these available on request. Fact sheets can be accessed separately to the key, by clicking on the link below.

View Fact Sheets

Related Literature

In addition to this interactive LUCID key, a traditional taxonomic key has been published in Zootaxa.

Meiklejohn, KA., Dowton, M., Pape, T., and Wallman JF. (2013) A revised key to the Australian Sarcophagidae (Diptera) with special emphasis on Sarcophaga (sensu lato). Zootaxa. 3680 (1): 148-189.

The descriptions for two of the new species included in this key are also published in Zootaxa.

Meiklejohn, KA., Wallman, JF., and Pape T. (2013) Updates on the taxonomy and nomenclature of the Australian Sarcophaga (sensu lato) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa. 3680 (1): 139-147.

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge Dr Melaine Archer (Monash University) for her assistance and a range of collections and museums for access to curated specimens, including the Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC; Canberra, Australia) & the Queensland Museum (QM; Brisbane, Australia).

This work has been supported by grants provided by the organisations listed at the bottom of this page.

Feedback or enquires about the key can be directed to Kelly A Meiklejohn ( km988 <at> uowmail.edu.au ).

How to Cite / Licencing

LUCID Key to the Australian Sarcophaga (sensu lato) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) by K.A. Meiklejohn et al is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

To cite this work in an academic setting, please use the following citation:

Meiklejohn, K.A., Kavazos, C.R.J., Dowton, M., Pape, T. and Wallman, J.F. (2012) Australian Sarcophaga (sensu lato) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). Institute for Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, University of Wollongong, Australia.

Financial Support

Produced with the financial support provided by the following institutions:

• Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS)
• Australian Research Council (ARC)
• Australian Federal Police (AFP)
• NSW Police Force