This flesh fly is 1/2 inch (13 mm) in length. The thorax is bluish-gray on top with black streaks. The abdomen is blue-gray. The eyes are dark red. There are sparse black bristles on the thorax and abdomen. Adults in this family are similar in appearance and difficult to identify to species.
This fly is probably common throughout late spring and summer.
The 79 North American species in this family vary greatly in habits, but the common species are mostly associated with small carrion such as insects and snails. A few use larger carcasses, and some are parasitoids of cicadas and grasshoppers. The females arrive later at a carcass than blow flies, but they lay live larvae to make up for the lost time.
Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Loren Padelford.