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Flesh Fly


Flesh Fly
Photo Information
Copyright: Ram Thakur (ramthakur) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3295 W: 167 N: 9912] (32154)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-03-29
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma EX 105mm F2.8 DG Macro, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/800 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-04-06 5:00
Viewed: 715
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
FLESH-FLY

Flies of the Diptera family Sarcophagidae (from the Greek sarco- = corpse, phage = eating; the same roots as the word "sarcophagus"), are commonly known as flesh flies. Most flesh flies breed in carrion, dung, or decaying material, but a few species lay their eggs in the open wounds of mammals; hence their common name. Some flesh fly larvae are internal parasites of other insects. These larvae, commonly known as maggots, live for about 5-10 days, before descending into the soil and maturing into adulthood. At that stage, they live for 5-7 days.

Identifying Characteristics
Antennae 3-segmented, with an arista; vein Rs 2-branched, frontal suture present, calypters well developed. Medium-sized flies with black and gray longitudinal stripes on the thorax and checkering on the abdomen. Arista commonly plumose on basal half; bare in a few species. Four notopleural bristles (short, long, short, long, from front to rear). Hindmost posthumeral bristle located even with or toward midline from presutural bristle.

Biology
Flesh-fly maggots occasionally eat other larvae although this is usually because the other larvae are smaller and get in the way. They also eat the larvae of grasshoppers and also eat beetles, snails, and caterpillars, especially the forest tent caterpillar. This habit can be useful for biological control. Flesh-flies and their larvae are also known to eat decaying vegetable matter and excrement and they may be found around compost piles and pit latrines.
Flesh-flies frequently give birth to live young on corpses of human and other animals, at any stage of decomposition from newly dead through to bloated or decaying (though the latter is more common).
The life cycle of flesh-fly larvae has been well researched and is very predictable. Different species prefer bodies in different states of decomposition, and the specific preferences and predictable life cycle timings allows forensic entomologists to understand the progress of decomposition and enables the calculation of the time of death by back extrapolation. This is done by determining the oldest larva of each species present, measuring the ambient temperature and from these values, calculating the earliest possible date and time for deposition of larvae. This yields an approximate time and date of death (d.o.d.) This evidence can be used in forensic entomology investigations and may assist in identification of a corpse by matching the calculated time of death with reports of missing persons. Such evidence has also been used to help identify murderers.

Association with Disease
Flesh-flies can carry leprosy bacilli and can transmit intestinal pseudomyiasis to people who eat the flesh-fly larvae. Flesh-flies can also cause myiasis in animals, mostly to sheep, and can give them blood poisoning, or asymptomatic leprosy infections.
(Source: Wikipedia)

TFL
Janice, iris, fartash, cicindela, SkyF, jcoowanitwong, pankajbajpai, Argus, star74, scottevers7, bobair, valy67 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2007-04-06 5:56]

What pretty red eyes you have Mr Fly!!
But what awful scary notes to read Ram! Not a very nice insect to come visit us!!
TFS
Janice

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 60 N: 947] (3016)
  • [2007-04-06 6:33]

Gosh, Looks can be so decieving!
That's a real killer with "killer looks" you have there.
His eyes 're really colorful and the u 've captured his black, gold and yellow tones in all there glory!

Hello Ram
Very nice shot of this Flesh fly,
Perfect compo and sharpness,
Fantastic colors and BG,Welldone.

Regards
Fartash

Hello my Friend!
Very nice, colourful macro :) Details and good but I especially like the POV - thanks to this pose you successfully cought a shadow of this fly :)
Note as alsway very informative.
Best greetings and have a nice afternoon,
Radomir

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2233 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2007-04-06 8:35]

Hi Ram,
hey those red eyes look excellent... not veryb often we can say that about a photo as we usually try to get rid of them ;-).
Nice shot, a bit on the soft side, but the details come through very nicely.
TFS..Sky

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2989 W: 162 N: 941] (2769)
  • [2007-04-06 9:08]

Hello Ram,
This one is really striking with his bright orange eyes. I like the POV and the composition is excellent but focus is a bit soft. No doubt you'll get another chance to shoot his one!!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Good macro RAm. Red eyes is cool. Well done. tfs. Stev

Hello Ram,
Another great macro picture. Great color saturation and well contrast picture. Sharply focus and well composed picture. tfs.
JC

hello mr thakur,
i was expecting a fly & I got it here, nice macro shot with good details, liked the composition, colours and pov from the top, great notes,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hi Ram, fantastic macro of wonderful fly, splendid details and beautiful colors, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3808 W: 190 N: 11328] (34927)
  • [2007-04-06 10:39]

Hello Ram,
Impressive portrayal of this meat-eater, the orange eyes being very striking and set off against a fine contrasting BG.
Despite the limited DOF leading to focusing problems, you show pretty good detail of this not unattractive fly with a repulsive life history. Good note too.
TFS and all the best,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • star74 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 212 W: 3 N: 598] (2474)
  • [2007-04-06 12:58]

Hi Ram,
Brilliant close up of this fly,
Nice vibrant colors,
Details and sharpness are perfect,
Well composed

Hi Ram,
A very nice macro on the Flesh Fly. Rich and Vibrsnt color saturation here. Nice sharp detail. Those eyes are just amazing. Lokks great!
Scott

  • Great 
  • bobair Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 397 W: 118 N: 1419] (5126)
  • [2007-04-10 23:17]

Hi Ram,
this is surely one of the more colourful flies that I have seen.Your macro is very fine and there is nothing I can say about it that needs improvement.I found your note to be very informative as well,so thank you for uploading this one. Bob

Hello Ram !
This fly is very beautiful, with her black stripes on the back and her big red eyes. You managed to captures some wonderful details on its "face". I also like the vivid colors, the composition and the POV. You show us that there is beauty even in a simple flesh fly. very well done !
Valerie.

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