Lateral view

Australian distribution

Taxonomy

Family: Muscidae

Subfamily: Muscinae

Genus: Hydrotaea Robineau-Desvoidy 1830

Species: spinigera (Stein 1910)

 

The immature stages are unknown.

Biology

This species is distinguished from all other muscids by the strong convex emargination of the posterior eye margin. This fly is probably a tertiary sheep fly (Fuller, 1932), as well as a tertiarry carrion fly (Tillyard and Seddon, 1933). It has been reared from a buffalo carcass, offal and faeces (see Pont 1973).

Distribution

This species is most abundant in the tropical and subtropical northern areas of Australia. It has been recorded in New South Wales, Northern Territory and Queensland.

Relevant Literature

Fuller, M.E. (1932) The larvae of the Australian sheep blowflies. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 57, 77-91.

Pont, A.C. (1973) Studies on Australian Muscidae (Diptera): IV. A revision of the subfamilies Muscinae and Stomoxyinae. Australian Journal of Zoology Supplementary Series 21, 129-296.

Tillyard, R.J. and Seddon, H.R. (1933) The sheep blowfly problem in Australia. Report No. 1. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Pamphlet 37.