648 
DIPTEIU. 
Sarcophagid^. 
Rather large usually grey and black flies. Antennal arista bare at the 
end , plumose on the basal half. Male eyes not markedly nearer than 
in the female. Squamce generally large. Abdomen of four visible 
segments , not noticeably bristly on the upper basal portion. 1st posterior 
cell much narrowed or closed. Male genital organs often noticeable as a 
rounded projection under the tail. Tarsi rather large. 
These flies are common all over India, and as a rule easily to be re¬ 
cognised by their red eyes and by their having the thorax grey striped 
longitudinally with black, and the abdomen 
with a checquered “ shot” pattern of dark 
and light grey. They are often known as 
“ Flesh-flies ” getting the name from the 
fact that they will readily lay their eggs in 
meat, especially if it has begun to go bad. 
The larvae are maggots in which the seg¬ 
ments are fairly distinct, each being marked 
by a band of minute spiny bristles. The 
posterior stigmata lie at the bottom of a cup¬ 
shaped depression at the hind end of the 
body (fig. 424). The eggs are white, some¬ 
times slightly curved, but in at least several 
species larvae are usually deposited instead 
of eggs, the latter having hatched within 
the body of the parent fly. This habit 
obviously ensures that the larva shall at once 
have access to the food-supply in the midst 
of which it is placed, and it has been observed 
to occur in species of Sarcophagidce which 
have been identified as causing Myiasis in 
man, the larvae being deposited in open 
wounds, ulcers, or in the nostrils, where they Fig. 424-Larva of a SARCO¬ 
teed and burrow into the tissues, often Potatoes x8. 
causing much pain and frequently death 
from blood-poisoning. If wounds are dressed with carbolic prepara¬ 
tions, tar, or other strong-smelling substances the flies will not deposit 
eggs or larvae therein. If larvae are found in a wound they should be 
