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Sarcophaga (Parasarcophaga) albiceps

Lateral view

Australian distribution

Male genitalia (phallus), lateral view

Male genitalia (cercus, surstylus), lateral view

Male genitalia (entire), lateral view

Taxonomy

Subfamily: Sarcophaginae

 

Genus: Sarcophaga Meigen 1826

 

Subgenus: Parasarcophaga Johnston & Tiegs 1921

 

Species: albiceps Meigen 1826

Biology

Sarcophaga albiceps breeds in decaying organic matter and has been observed to larviposit on mutton in India and fish in Pakistan (Shazia et al., 2006; Singh & Bharti, 2008). Similar observations have been made of this species breeding on faeces in the presence of carrion in Thailand (Bänziger and Pape 2004). Also, S. albiceps has been documented causing cutaneous myiasis of buffalo, cows and humans (Castro et al. 2010). Larvae of S. albiceps are facultative predators of a variety of butterfly (Lepidoptera) pupae and Hymenoptera larvae. The third-instar larva was described by Ishijima (1967).

Distribution

AUSTRALASIAN/OCEANIAN – (Australia – Queensland), ORIENTAL, PALAEARCTIC.

Relevant Literature

Bänziger, H., and Pape, T. (2004) Flowers, faeces and cadavers: natural feeding and laying habits of flesh flies in Thailand (Diptera: Sarcophagidae, Sarcophaga spp.). Journal of Natural History 38, 1677-1694.

Castro, C.B., Garcia, M.D., Arnaldos, M.I., and González-Mora, D. (2010) Sarcophagidae (Diptera) attracted to piglet carcasses including new records for Portuguese fauna. Graellsia 66, 285-294.

Ishijima, H. (1967) Revision of the third stage larvae of synanthropic flies of Japan (Diptera: Anthomyiidae, Muscidae, Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae). Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology 18, 47-200.

Meigen, J.W. (1826) Systematische Beschreibung der bekannten europäischen zweiflügeligen Insekten. Fünfter Theil. Schulz, Hamm. xii + 412 pp., pls. 42-54.

Singh, B., and Bharti, M. (2008) Some notes on the nocturnal larviposition by two species of Sarcophaga (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). Forensic Science International 177, 19-20.

Shazia, T.M., Suhail, A., and Yousuf, M.J. (2006) Systematics and populations of sarcophagid flies in Faisalabad (Pakistan). International Journal of Agriculture & Biology 8(6), 809-811.