Golden Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)
Golden Dung Flies range throughout most of the world. They are found in pastures, woods, parks, gardens -- just about anywhere dung and/or other flies might be found. Adults are voracious predators of other flies and, sometimes, other small insects. The female dug fly lays her eggs in piles of guess what? Dung, of course. When the larvae hatch they consume the dung as they develop into pupae which burrow into the soil beneath the dung pile and continue developing into adult flies. S. stercoraria can produce four or five generations per year depending upon the climate.
Sources and links:
BugGuide Species Page
Stephen Cresswell Photography
I chased a fly I had never seen before all over the place yesterday and never did get a picture of it but it was totally different from anything I have seen. As is your dung fly. Never saw them on any piles of dung -- horse, cows, sheep, pig, goat, human -- I wonder if they are specialists? I would have thought I would see them but I never saw them eating other flies either. LOL
ReplyDeleteI should go back to bed. I ache all over anyway. This arthritis (rheumatoid) ain't for sissies.
What great photos Marvin. I have never seen this fly around. Maybe because I don't live near a pasture??
ReplyDeleteGreat pics, but you know what I don't like about golden dung flies? Their silly little shit-eating grins ;-)
ReplyDeleteSorry!
If one ever landed on me, I think I would have to bleach where it had landed. GROSS is a good word to describe them. But they must be important to this old circle-of-life or they wouldn't be part of it.
ReplyDeleteI have heard the saying.. 'Where's there's muck ..there's brass'. (meaning money..
ReplyDeleteBut never 'Where's there's muck, there's Gold'..
Great capture..
On my "Taking a photo blogging break" entry, you commented the following; "...but I'm beginning to miss having someone saying "Yuck!" to all my bug photos."
ReplyDeleteWow! You sure know how to lure a 'lady' back! ,-) I come and what do I find here, but a GOLDEN DUNG FLY! -giggles-
He lures. And he doesn't disappoint! If you doubt my statement, read the following, from this entry... "Dung, of course. When the larvae hatch they consume the dung as they develop into pupae" Come now, wouldn't that elicit an "Ugh" from most anyone?!? >,-))))
Mari-Nanci
Photos-City-Mine
And -shushhhhhhhhhhh- Don't tell Jo. But I am definitely developing a big crush on you....
ReplyDelete-shushhhhhhhhhhhhh-
^_^
Mari-Nanci
Photos-City-Mine
Fantastic detail on these pictures!
ReplyDeleteGreat close-up. You really captured it. MB
ReplyDeleteHi Marvin,
ReplyDeleteVery cool bug!
We need these Dung Flies.
I am so smittem with your lens and your photography! I love the close ups you can get.
Sherry
What a crappy fly! :) Great Photos!
ReplyDelete