Yellow Dung Fly

Description:

Scathophaga stercoraria are sexually dimorphic insects with an average lifespan of one to two months. The adult males are bright golden-yellow with orange-yellow fur on the front legs. Females are a little duller in color, with pronounced green-brown tinges, and no brightly colored fur on the front legs. The adults range from 5 - 11 mm in length, and the males are generally larger than the females. The adults mainly prey on smaller insects, mostly other Diptera.

Habitat:

The distribution of Scathophaga stercoraria is likely influenced by human agriculture, especially in Northern Europe and North America. Scathophaga are integral in the animal kingdom due to their role in the natural erosion of dung in fields. As its common name suggests, it is often found on the feces of large mammals, such as horses, cows, sheep, deer, and wild boar, where it goes to breed.