Sepsidae

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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Sepsidae | image = Sepsidae.jpg | image_width = 250px | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Arthropoda | classis = Insecta | ordo = Diptera | familia = Sepsidae | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = according to ITIS:
Orygma
Saltella
Decachaetophora
Enicita
Enicomira
Meroplius
Nemopoda
Sepsidimorpha
Sepsis
Themira }}

Sepsidae are a family of flies, commonly called the black scavenger flies or ensign flies. There are approximately 250 species worldwide. They are usually found around dung or decaying plant and animal material.They resemble ants having a "waist" and glossy black body [1].Many Sepsidae have a curious wing-waving habit made more apparent by dark patches at the wing end.

Many species have a very wide distribution reflecting the coprophagous habit of most Sepsidae. Some species have been spread over large territories in association with livestock. Adult flies are found mostly on animal and human excrement (less often on other rotting organic matter) where eggs are laid and larvae develop, and on nearby vegetation, carrion, fermenting tree sap, and shrubs and herbs.

Many Sepsidae apparently play an important biological role as decomposers of animal excrement. Some species may have a limited hygienic importance because of their association with human faeces.Others are useful tools in forensic entomology.

Identification

• Duda, O. 1926 Monographie der Sepsiden (Dipt.). Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 39 (1925): 1-153 and 40 (1926) : 1-110.

This work is partly out of date but still the only review of world genera.

• Willi Hennig, 1949: 39a. Sepsidae. In Erwin Lindner : Die Fliegen der Palaearktischen Region, Bd. V: 1-91, Textfig. 1-81a-d, Taf. I-X, Stuttgart.The only comprehensive work on Palaearctic genera and species.

External links

• Black Scavenger Fly - diagnostic photographs
• Family description and images