The flesh fly is one of over 30 species of flies whose larvae live mostly on living or dead flesh. Like other species of flies, they are of medical and sanitary importance, mainly because they help in the decomposition of organic matter and cause disease. In Maltese, the flesh fly is known as dubbiena tal-laħam.

Flesh flies belong to the Sarcophagidae family; this name is made up of the Greek words sarco and phage meaning ‘flesh’ and ‘eating’. The word sarcophagus has the same roots.

The flesh fly family consists of about 2,500 species.

Like other species of flies, flesh flies are carriers of pathogenic agents especially bacteria, one of which is the bacillum that causes leprosy. Flesh flies can also cause myiasis in humans and other vertebrate animals. This term is used to describe the invasion of tissues or organs by the larvae of flies.

Humans can become victims of flesh flies

The name of the condition is derived from the ancient Greek word myia meaning ‘fly’.

Humans can become victims of flesh flies. Their larvae are sometimes used in hospitals to remove dead flesh from patients.

The most common victim of myiasis are sheep which become host to the larvae of the blow fly. Adult blowflies lay their eggs on the sheep’s skin. When the eggs hatch, the larvae eat their way through the skin and tunnel through the sheep’s flesh, causing irritation. Unless treated, the myiasis can result in death.

Flesh flies are ovoviviparous. Most insects lay eggs which hatch after some hours, days or weeks. Flesh flies lay their eggs while they are hatching or even allow the eggs to hatch in their body before depositing the larvae on to their preferred food.

Some flesh flies parasitise other insects such as grasshoppers, solitary bees and wasps.

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