Flesh Fly vs South American Robber Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Flesh Fly South American Robber Fly
Scientific Name Sarcophaga carnaria Microstylum magnum
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Sarcophagidae Asilidae
Size 10-18 mm 30-40 mm
Habitat Woodlands Grasslands
Diet Carrion Feeders Predators
Regions Europe, Asia, North America South America, Central America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Flesh Fly

A large gray fly with three black longitudinal stripes on the thorax and a checkered abdomen. Unlike most flies, females give birth to live larvae rather than laying eggs.

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Did You Know?

Flesh flies are larviparous, depositing live first-instar maggots directly onto food sources, giving their offspring a developmental head start over egg-laying competitors.

South American Robber Fly

A large, elongate robber fly from tropical regions with a slender abdomen and long spiny legs. It hunts from exposed perches and can catch large prey relative to its body size.

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Did You Know?

Some tropical Asilidae species are among the largest predatory flies in the world, rivaling small dragonflies in wingspan.