Diptera

Scathophagidae

Dung Flies

Cheshire, England - May 2007

The common English name for the Scathophagidae is a bit misleading. It is true that the most familiar and abundantly common member of the family, Scathophaga stercoraria, lay their eggs in animal dung, but the majority of species do not have any association with manure and their larvae exploit a wide range of habitats and food sources.

Cheshire, England - June 2007

Adult Scathophagidae flies may often be seen hanging around flowers, but they are not generally there for the nectar or pollen.  They are fierce predators, hunting other flies that are attracted to the flower's food sources, and as such can be regarded as beneficial biological control agents of potentially harmful insects which can transmit diseases, such as the blowflies.

Cheshire, England - June 2007

Cheshire, England - June 2008

Cheshire, England - May 2009

Cheshire, England - May 2009

Cheshire, England -  May 2009

Cheshire, England - May 2009

Although I haven't been able to identify any of the individuals in the photographs presented on this page, it would be a reasonable guess that the majority of them (in fact, probably all of them) are examples of the abundant Common Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria).