flesh fly

Medium-sized fly varying from golden-brown to dark grey. The larvae feed on carrion and animal waste, though the larvae of Wohlfahrtia often invade the skin of children and young animals and other larvae will cause myiasis (invasion of the tissues) when the skin is already broken by a cut or abrasion.

Classification Flesh flies are members of the genera Sarcophaga and Wohlfahrtia in the family Sarcophagidae of the insect order Diptera, class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda.