FLESH-FLIES 25 



EXERCISE 13 



FLESH-FLIES 



*- w 



ORDER DIPTERA, FAMILY SARCOPHAGIDJE . 



Family Sarcophagidae thorax and abdomen provided with 

 stiff bristles. (Do not confuse with the Tachinidae.) 



A. The Texas screw worm fly, Chrysomyia (Lucilia) macel- 

 laria. 



a. Coloration; general color of the body is metallic green; the 

 thorax bears three longitudinal black dorsal stripes. The head 

 is distinctly reddish brown in color. 



b. Size; the size of all species of flesh flies may vary consider- 

 ably within each group, due largely to lack of food during the 

 larval period. (See Herms, "An Ecological and Experimental 

 Study of Sarcophagidae," 1906.) However the screw worm fly 

 is a medium-sized fly, never attaining the size of the larger 

 species of flies, such as the blowfly, Calliphora wmitoria, for 

 example. 



c. Mouthparts; compare with mouthparts of housefly. 



d. Wing -venation; compare with venation of housefly. 



e. Note the scissors-like folding of the wings. Draw the 

 specimen, indicating the striping and the characteristic folding 

 of the wings, in particular. 



B. Examine and draw a specimen of the bluebottle fly, Cal- 

 liphora wmitoria. What are its characteristics? 



C. Examine and draw a specimen of the greenbottle fly, 

 Lucilia c&sar. How does this species differ from Chrysomyia? 



D. Study and draw mounted specimens of flesh fly larvae, 

 noting the oral hooks, or mandibles, shape, color and posterior 

 spiracles. 



