Diagnosis. Small to large flies, most species are black or grey with typical chequered pattern (explains their Dutch name "dambordvliegen"), never metallic blue or green. Thorax with series of setae on hypopleuron. Legs strongly setose. Tergites without sensory setulae along anterior margin (present in Calliphoridae and Rhinophoridae). Modern classification is based on phylogenetic considerations, using characters of genitalia and larvae.
Biology. Species of the subfamily Miltogramminae are mainly cleptoparasites of Aculeata (Hymenoptera). The species of other subfamilies have a wide range of life habits. Of some the larvae are predators, necrophages or parasitoids of insects (Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Heteroptera, Lepidoptera), millipedes, snails, earthworms, fishes, reptilian eggs and spider egg sacs, birds or mammals, of others the larvae are scavengers of carrion or they live in the fluids of entomophagous plants. Some species are known to cause myiasis in vertebrates.
General references. Blackith et al. (1997 [Sarcophaga (Helicophagella)]), Böttcher (1912a, 1912b, 1913a, 1913b, 1913c, and 1913d [Sarcophaga]), Mihaly (1979 [keys]), Pape (1987 [keys]), 1992 [phylogeny], 1994 [Blaesoxipha], 1996 [world catalogue, classification], 1998a [general, key to genera]), Povolny & Verves (1987, 1997 [keys]), Rohdendorf (1930, 1935, 1937, 1971, 1975 [keys]), Séguy (1941 [general, biology]), Shewell (1987c [general, key to genera, Nearctic]), Van Emden (1954 [keys]), Verves (1982 [keys], 1986 [catalogue]).
References to the local fauna. Adema (1997), 1994Beuk et al. (), Van der Goot et al. (1990), Huijbregts & Beuk (2000), Insektenwerkgroep van de KNNV, afdeling Arnhem (1994), Kabos (1974), De Meijere (1907, 1928a, 1939b, 1946a), Prijs et al. (1996), Smit (2001b), Stoel (1989), Theowald (1952d), Velterop (1991), Velterop et al. (1989), Verstegen et al. (1992), Van der Wulp (1864a), Van der Wulp & De Meijere (1898), Zeegers (1996a).
Remarks. The number of species in the world is as given by Pape (1996). Rudzinski (1999: 182) gives an estimate of about 2750 species.
How to quote this page: Velterop, J.H.C., & L.E.N. Sijstermans, 2025. Family Sarcophagidae. In: Beuk, P.L.Th. (Ed.): Checklist of the Diptera of the Netherlands, https://diptera-info.nl/news.php?fam=Sarcophagidae (date accessed: 19/04/2025).
NL: 72, 1?
B: 64
D: 72, 1?
UK: 59
World: 2510
SARCOPHAGIDAE
MILTOGRAMMINAE
Amobia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
signata Meigen, 1824
N; will be formally added by Sijstermans (in prep.)
Macronychia Rondani, 1859
agrestis (Fallén, 1810)
N
Note 1
griseola (Fallén, 1820)
N
polyodon (Meigen, 1824)
N
striginervis (Zetterstedt, 1838)
N; added as ungulans by Kabos (1974: 52)
= polyodon (Meigen, 1824): misident. sensu Adema, 1997
= ungulans (Pandellé, 1895)
Metopia Meigen, 1803
argentata Macquart, 1850
N; added as roserii by J.T. Smit (2001b: 157)
= roserii Rondani, 1859
= stackelbergi Rohdendorf, 1955
argyrocephala (Meigen, 1824)
N
= leucocephala (Rossi, 1790): preocc.
campestris (Fallén, 1820)
N
grandii Venturi, 1953
N; will be formally added by Sijstermans (in prep.)
italiana Pape, 1985
N; added by J.T. Smit (2001b: 157)
staegerii Rondani, 1859
N; added by Beuk et al. (1994: xxi)
Note 2
= rondaniana Venturi, 1953
tshernovae Rohdendorf, 1955
N; will be formally added by Sijstermans (in prep.)
Miltogramma Meigen, 1803
Note 3
germari Meigen, 1824
N; added by Theowald (1952d: 131)
= oestracea (Fallén, 1820): misident. sensu auct.
Note 4
punctata Meigen, 1824
N
testaceifrons (von Roser, 1840)
N
= pilitarsis Rondani, 1859
Oebalia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
= Ptychoneura Brauer & von Bergenstamm, 1889
cylindrica (Fallén, 1810)
N
minuta (Fallén, 1810)
N
= melaleuca (Meigen, 1824)
= rufitarsis (Meigen, 1824)
unistriata Rohdendorf, 1963
N; added as sachtlebeni by Verstegen et al. (1992: 64, fig. 57)
= sachtlebeni Rohdendorf, 1963: misident. sensu Verstegen et al., 1992
Phrosinella Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863
nasuta (Wiedemann in Meigen, 1824)
N
Pterella Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863
= Setulia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863
grisea (Meigen, 1824)
N
= intricata (Meigen, 1824)
= murina (Meigen, 1824): misident. sensu Van der Wulp & De Meijere, 1898
Senotainia Macquart, 1846
albifrons (Rondani, 1859)
N; will be formally added by Sijstermans (in prep.)
conica (Fallén, 1810)
= melaleuca (Meigen, 1824)
puncticornis (Zetterstedt, 1859)
N; will be formally added by Sijstermans (in prep.)
Taxigramma Perris, 1852
Note 3
= Heteropterina Macquart, 1854
= Hilarella Rondani, 1856
= Paragusia Schiner, 1861
elegantula (Zetterstedt, 1844)
N
= frivaldzkii Schiner, 1862
heteroneura (Meigen, 1830)
N
= multipunctata (Rondani, 1859): misident. sensu Van der Wulp & De Meijere, 1898
Note 5
hilarella (Zetterstedt, 1844)
N
= zetterstedtii (Rondani, 1856)
stictica (Meigen, 1830)
N
= dira (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830)
= siphonina (Zetterstedt, 1844)
PARAMACRONYCHIINAE
Agria Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
affinis (Fallén, 1817)
N
= punctata Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
mamillata (Pandellé, 1896)
N; will be formally added by Velterop (in prep.)
Angiometopa Brauer & von Bergenstamm, 1889
falleni Pape, 1986
N; added as ruralis by Van der Goot et al. (1990: vi)
= ruralis (Fallén, 1817): preocc.
Brachicoma Rondani, 1856
= Brachycoma Meade, 1892: emend.
devia (Fallén, 1820)
N
= laticornis (Meigen, 1826): misident. sensu De Meijere, 1907
= bombivora (Van der Wulp, 1869)
T
Nyctia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
halterata (Panzer, 1798)
N
= nigrita (Scopoli, 1763)
Sarcophila Rondani, 1856
latifrons (Fallén, 1817)
N
SARCOPHAGINAE
Blaesoxipha Loew, 1861
subg. Blaesoxipha Loew, 1861
lapidosa Pape, 1994
N
= lineata (Fallén, 1817): misident. sensu auct.
= campestris (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863): misident. sensu auct.
= agrestis (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863): misident. sensu Velterop, 1991
plumicornis (Zetterstedt, 1859)
N; added by Velterop (1991: 18)
= lineata (Fallén, 1817): preocc.
= gladiatrix (Pandellé, 1896)
Ravinia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863
pernix (Harris, 1780)
N
Note 6
= striata (Fabricius, 1794)
= haematodes (Meigen, 1826)
= eyrhtura (Meigen, 1826): misident.
Sarcophaga Meigen, 1826
subg. Bellieriomima Rohdendorf, 1937
subulata Pandellé, 1896
N; will be formally added by Velterop (in prep.)
= laciniata Pandellé, 1896
subg. Bercaea Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863
africa (Wiedemann, 1824)
N
= haemorrhoidalis (Fallén, 1817): misident. sensu auct.
= cruentata Meigen, 1826
Note 7
= erythrura Meigen, 1826: misident. sensu Van der Wulp & De Meijere, 1898
= nurus Rondani, 1860
subg. Helicophagella Enderlein, 1928
agnata Rondani, 1860
N; added as uliginosa by De Meijere (1946a: 21)
= uliginosa Kramer, 1908: misident. sensu De Meijere, 1946
crassimargo Pandellé, 1896
N
Note 6
melanura Meigen, 1826
N
= cruentata Meigen, 1826: misident. sensu auct.
Note 7
noverca Rondani, 1860
N
rosellei Böttcher, 1912
N; added by Velterop et al. (1989: 13)
subg. Heteronychia Brauer & von Bergenstamm, 1889
= Discachaeta Enderlein, 1928
arcipes Pandellé, 1896
N; added by Van der Goot et al. (1990: vi)
dissimilis Meigen, 1826
N
= offuscata Meigen, 1826
= meadei Böttcher, 1913: misident. sensu De Meijere, 1946
filia Rondani, 1860
N
= iuvenis Rondani, 1860
= juvenis Rondani, 1860: incorrect spelling
haemorrhoa Meigen, 1826
N
= vulnerata Schiner, 1862: misident. sensu auct.
pumila Meigen, 1826
N
Note 6
rondaniana Rohdendorf, 1937
N
= offuscata Meigen, 1826: misident. sensu Schiner, 1862
= depressifrons Zetterstedt, 1845: misident. sensu Van der Wulp & De Meijere, 1898
= arvorum Rondani, 1860: misident. sensu De Meijere, 1928
= obscurata (Rohdendorf, 1937)
vagans Meigen, 1826
N
Note 6
= cruentata Meigen, 1826: misident. sensu auct.
= vicina Macquart, 1835: misident. sensu Van der Wulp, 1864
Note 7
= frenata Pandellé, 1896
subg. Kramerea Rohdendorf, 1937
subg. Krameromyia Verves, 1982
anaces Walker, 1849
N
= setipennis Rondani, 1860
subg. Liopygia Enderlein, 1928
argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830)
N; added as falculata by De Meijere (1946a: 20)
= falculata Pandellé, 1896
subg. Liosarcophaga Enderlein, 1928
harpax Pandellé, 1896
N
pleskei Rohdendorf, 1937
N; will be formally added by Velterop (in prep.)
portschinskyi Rohdendorf, 1937
N; will be formally added by Velterop (in prep.)
teretirostris Pandellé, 1896
N; will be formally added by Velterop (in prep.)
tuberosa Pandellé, 1896
N
subg. Mehria Enderlein, 1928
nemoralis Kramer, 1908
N
sexpunctata (Fabricius, 1805)
N
Note 6
= clathrata Meigen, 1826
subg. Myorhina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
= Pierretia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863
nigriventris Meigen, 1826
N
villeneuvei Böttcher, 1912
N; added by De Meijere (1946a: 21)
subg. Pandelleana Rohdendorf, 1937
protuberans Pandellé, 1896
N; will be formally added by Velterop (in prep.)
subg. Pandelleisca Rohdendorf, 1937
similis Meade, 1876
N; added by Huijbregts & Beuk (2000: xxiv)
subg. Parasarcophaga Johnston & Tiegs, 1921
albiceps Meigen, 1826
N; added by De Meijere (1946a: 20)
subg. Robineauella Enderlein, 1928
caerulescens Zetterstedt, 1838
N; added as scoparia by De Meijere (1946a: 21)
= scoparia Pandellé, 1896
subg. Rosellea Rohdendorf, 1937
aratrix Pandellé, 1896
N; will be formally added by Velterop (in prep.)
subg. Sarcophaga Meigen, 1826
carnaria (Linnaeus, 1758)
N
= schulzi Mueller, 1922
= vulgaris Rohdendorf, 1937
lehmanni Mueller, 1922
N; added by Insektenwerkgroep van de KNNV, afdeling Arnhem (1994: 42)
= lasiostyla Macquart, 1843: misident. sensu Pape, 1987
subvicina Rohdendorf, 1937
N; added as vicina Villeneuve by De Meijere (1946a: 21)
= vicina Villeneuve, 1899: preocc.
variegata (Scopoli, 1763)
N
= carnaria (Linnaeus, 1758): misident. sensu auct.
= atropos Meigen, 1826
= laticrus (Robineua-Desvoidy, 1830): misident. sensu auct.
subg. Sarcotachinella Townsend, 1917
sinuata Meigen, 1826
N
subg. Thyrsocnema Enderlein, 1928
incisilobata Pandellé, 1896
N
= striata (Fabricius, 1794): misident. sensu Meigen, 1824
= laticornis Meigen, 1826: misident. sensu De Meijere, 1907
= privigna Rondani, 1860: misident. sensu Pandellé, 1896
Doubtful species
Sarcophaga Meigen, 1826
subg. Kramerea Rohdendorf, 1937
schuetzei Kramer, 1909
added by De Meijere (1946a: 21)
Note 8
Deleted species
Oebalia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
praeclusa (Pandellé, 1895)
omitted by De Meijere (1939b)
Note 9
Notes
Note 1
All old material identified as M. agrestis that could be checked belonged to M. polyodon. However, the occurrence of this species in the Netherlands has been confirmed on the basis of recent material.
Note 2
Again added as rondaniana by Prijs et al. (1996: xv) and Zeegers (1996a: 69).
Note 3
The gender of both Miltogramma and Taxigramma is feminine following Pape (1996).
Note 4
All material under M. oestracea Fallén, 1820 in the De Meijere collection that could be identified belongs to M. germari. Most female specimens cannot be identified because the abdomens are damaged.
Note 5
All material under T. multipunctata that could be checked belongs to T. heteroneura.
Note 6
De Meijere (1939b: 172) listed S. vagans but later (De Meijere, 1946a: 20-21) referred all previously recorded specimens to a number of other species, a.o., R. pernix [as clathrata], S. (H.) pumila, S. (H.) crassimargo and S. (M.) sexpunctata [as clathrata].
Note 7
It is not clear to which species the material belongs that was recorded as S. cruentata before De Meijere (1946a). De Meijere (1946a) refers part of the material to S. frenata [= S. (H.) vagans] but earlier (De Meijere, 1939b: 172) to melanura.
Note 8
This species was recorded by De Meijere (1946a: 21) on the basis of two males reared by J.Th. Oudemans. One specimen is indeed S. (K.) schuetzei, the other is Eurychaeta muscaria (Meigen, 1826) (Calliphoridae). The latter species is not indigenous and this casts doubt on the origin of the material. Since the origin is not certain, this species is listed as doubtfully Dutch.
Note 9
First recorded by De Meijere (1920a: 181), again recorded by De Meijere (1946a: 20). The material of recorded by De Meijere could not be traced. Pape (1996: 121) lists this name as an unidentified species, possibly a senior synonym of O. sachtlebeni Rohdendorf, 1963. A Dutch specimen labelled as praeclusa belongs to O. cylindrica.
The latest revisions at different levels
Pandelleisca was the last (sub)genus to be edited on 07-09-2016 09:52
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