# Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies (*sarcophagidae*) Flesh flies and satellite flies are fascinating insects that help clean up nature by eating dead animals! They have a unique way of flying and are often seen buzzing around in gardens and parks. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Flesh flies and satellite flies can be found in urban areas, forests, and near decaying organic matter. - **Also known as:** Flesh Fly, Meat Fly, Sarcophagus Fly, Satellite Fly ![Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sarcophaga_Bercaea2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim, GFDL · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sarcophaga_Bercaea2.jpg) ## Appearance The Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies have robust, often grey or dark bodies with a distinctive checkered pattern on their abdomen. Their thorax can have a subtle metallic sheen or dark stripes. They are typically larger and hairier than common house flies, with prominent red eyes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Sarcophagidae - **Genus:** Sarcophaga ## Interesting facts - Scientists sometimes use their larvae to help solve real-life mysteries, like crime scenes! - Some flesh flies actually give birth to live maggots, not eggs! - Their tiny, sticky footpads let them walk upside down on almost any surface! - They can smell a dead animal from surprisingly far away, like super sniffers! ## Special abilities - **Live Birth Delivery:** Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies can give birth to live larvae directly onto decaying matter, ensuring their young quickly find food. - **Super Sniffers:** Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies have highly sensitive antennae that help them detect carrion from surprisingly far away. - **Forensic Clock:** Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies have larvae that develop at predictable rates, which helps scientists estimate how long a body has been dead. - **Nature's Recyclers:** Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies can rapidly break down dead organic material, turning waste into nutrients for the ecosystem. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 12-30 mm - **Size:** 6-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 15-30 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Maggots feast on decaying meat and waste, while adult flies enjoy sweet nectar and other sugary liquids. - **Age differences:** Larvae consume decaying organic matter, while adults primarily feed on nectar or sugary liquids. - **Primary Foods:** decaying flesh, carrion, dung, rotting fruit, nectar, tree sap - **Foraging Method:** Scavenging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Adult flies are a food source for these common birds. - **Eats:** [House Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-mouse) (*Mus musculus*) — Larvae consume decaying mouse carcasses, aiding decomposition. - **Eats:** [Dandelion](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dandelion) (*Taraxacum officinale*) — Adult flies drink nectar from flowers like the dandelion. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low These flies are not harmful to children, but it's best to observe them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies's wingspan? 12-30 mm ### How big is Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies? 6-15 mm ### How long does Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies live? 15-30 days ### How fast can Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies fly? 15 km/h ### What does Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies eat? Maggots feast on decaying meat and waste, while adult flies enjoy sweet nectar and other sugary liquids. ### Where is Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies usually found? Flesh flies and satellite flies can be found in urban areas, forests, and near decaying organic matter. ### How does Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies hunt? Scavenging ## Where to spot - [Memorial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/memorial-park) — Ontario, CA · Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Flesh Flies And Satellite Flies Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/flesh-flies-and-satellite-flies)