Flesh Fly

Description:

Sarcophaginae are medium to large flies 0.08-0.7 inches (0.2-1.8 centimeters) with black and gray longitudinal stripes on the thorax and checkering on the abdomen. Other key features include red eyes and a bristled abdomen.

Notes:

Because of their rapid and well-studied life cycle, flesh flies, along with blow flies and other scavengers, can serve as useful indicators of time of death in forensic investigations, as part of the science of forensic entomology. Flesh flies and blow flies also can be household pests.