---

Hello,
I found a dead Sarcophaga fly and put it in a little box as food for another arthropod. On the next day in the box were some small larvae (size ~ 2-3 mm) together with the fly.
Is it possible to identify the larvae from the pictures? I did not see eggs.
Thanks,
Marion

---

another larva

---

Additional Information:
The fly came from outside and bumped several times on to the window pane. I was in a hurry and therefore did not catch it. Coming back after 2 or 3 hours I found the fly dead on the floor. I assumed that it died because of the collisions.
Here is a picture of the fly.
Is it possible to answer the question: Are the larvae the "children" of the fly or was the fly killed by the larvae of another fly species?

---

Sarcophagidae are viviparous or ovoviviparous.

---

Thank you for answer, John.

I think that the circumstances speak for Sarcophaga larvae, but this remains a presumption.
I could not find pictures of such young larvae for comparison.

Marion

---

Manual of Nearctic Diptera has a key to families of larvae and a description of first instar Sarcophagidae larvae. This should be accurate in Germany too. Sarcophagidae is mostly a New World family and as far as I know all European Sarcophagidae belong to holarctic genera.

http://www.esc-se...fcmono.php
Volume 1 has keys to families. Volume 2 has the family treatment for Sarcophagidae.

---

Thanks for the literature.
In my lay opinion the larva photos are in a good overall agreement with the 1st instar Sarcophaginae larva from figure 107 in the ManuaI of Nearctic Diptera. Unfortunately, the limited resolution of the photos does not allow the evaluation of details.

Marion

---

These are certainly larvae of Sarcophagidae and would then most probably be Sarcophaga sp. It is a well-known phenomenon that the mature first instar larvae in the uterus of female Sarcophaga spp. leave their dead mother. Sometimes they may even start eating their dead mother. It is possible to see on one of the photos that the posterior spiracles are situated in a relatively deep cavity, which is a feature shared by the large majority of flesh flies. This feature separates them from larvae of Calliphoridae, Muscidae and other calyptrates.

---

Thank you for explanation and confirmation of ID, Thomas.

Marion

---

Hello

Interesting topic, any chance of some arrows showing the posterior spiracles- no idea where they are?