Flesh flies are common throughout the year and are rather suited for urban environments | Photo is my own
Housefly Vs Flesh fly
To start off, these two similar flies are not much related! This is product of convergent evolution, when two unrelated species evolve to be similar.
Identification is easy
House flies’ abdomens are whole yellow to grey with more setae VS Flesh flies’ abdomens are grey, sometimes tipped red/orange/yellow/black with less setae
Note: Setae are insect hairs!
Remember the difference between an alligator and crocodile? Another U-V difference can be used here: From above, the abdomen of a flesh fly is approximately a V, but a houseflies’ abdomen is rounder, like a U.
Lastly, flesh flies have three lines on top of the thorax (Mind it, the top not including the side) but houseflies have 4, or more.
But yes, they are many. many. many species of house- and flesh flies, and the only way to get real good with that is to try to identify, try agin, and keep on trying. Slowly but surely, later you will be able to differentiate them with ease. If you dant have enough flies right now, then don’t worry – The gallery below is composed of flesh flies, and there is another article dedicated to houseflies, where you can find a housefly gallery to compare with these ones. But keep the note below in mind:
SIZE IS NOT A RELIABLE WAY TO IDENTIFY
Younger flesh flies can be the size of a housefly, and I have seen such tiny flesh flies for my self, but rarely got a photo, because most of them flew away before I could capture a photo. The few such flesh flies which I did get a photo of are mixed in the gallery below.
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Gallery
Update no. 2 (14 Sep 2024, 1:10 IST)
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area. This photo gives more detail of the leg.
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 3
This one is different from the common type by having maroon eyes and black hairs at the back of the head
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area. This photo gives more detail of the leg.
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area. This photo gives more detail of the leg.
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area. This photo gives more detail of the leg.
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is a smoother-backed species. I tried messing up with the colours of the eucalyptus in the background.
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area. This photo gives more detail of the leg.
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area. This photo gives more detail of the leg.
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This one is different from the common type by having maroon eyes and black hairs at the back of the head
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus sp. 4
This one has brown stripes.
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area. This photo gives more detail of the leg.
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area. This photo gives more detail of the leg.
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area. This photo gives more detail of the leg.
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus sp. 4
This one has brown stripes.
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus sp. 4
This one has brown stripes.
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 1
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area
Sarcophagus (Sarcophagus) sp. 2
This is the most common type, but there seem to be about 5-10 species of this genus in my area. This photo gives more detail of the leg.
For a captivating gallery of houseflies, check our housefly article
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Housefly fly insects insects houseflies flies Muscomorpha Muscidae Musca Flesh fly Sarcophagus Sarcophagidae Satellite flies Brachycera Brachyceran Cyclorhapha Arthropod Arthropoda Arthropod Insect Insect Insects