Taxonomy

Family: Sciadoceridae

Genus: Sciadocera White 1916

Species: rufomaculata White 1916

Biology

Sciadocera rufomaculata is one of only two known extant species of the family Sciadoceridae worldwide. This species has been observed ovipositing on the carcass of a wombat, and has been captured in blowfly traps baited with liver (Fuller, 1934). Fuller failed to observe oviposition on fresh meat, wool or fungus; however, she was able to rear small maggots from putrified liver in which Calliphora stygia larvae were feeding. The species is common in the wet sclerophyll forests of Victoria, especially in the cooler months (Archer 2002). It has also been reared by M. S. Archer from decaying meat in suburban Melbourne.

Distribution

This species occurs in Australia, including the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. It is also found in New Zealand.

Relevant Literature

Archer, M.S. (2002) The ecology of invertebrate associations with vertebrate carrion in Victoria, with reference to forensic entomology. PhD, University of Melbourne.

Fuller, M.E.(1934a) The early stages of Sciadocera rufomaculata White (Diptera: Phoridae). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 59, 9-15.

Fuller, M.E. (1934b) The insect inhabitants of carrion: a study in animal ecology. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Australia, Bulletin 82, 1-63.

McAlpine, J.F. and Martin, J.E.H. (1966) Systematics of Sciadoceridae and relatives, with descriptions of two new genera and species from Canadian Amber and erection of family Ironomyiidae (Diptera: Phoroidea). The Candian Entomologist 98, 527-544.