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The Scathophagidae is a small family of true flies
(those insects with only one set of two wings) commonly
called dung flies, although but a few species' larvae
actually spend their development in dung exclusively.
Many others' larva are plant feeders (leaf miners,
stem-borers), aquatic predators and predators on other
insect larvae resident in rotting vegetable matter,
seaweed or dung. The adults are predators of other small
insects. They are one of the more prolific predators of
blow flies.
Worldwide, there are about 360 described species in 66
genera. The great majority are found in the Palearctic
and Nearctic regions and the family is almost wholly
confined to the northern hemisphere; only 5 species are
known from the southern hemisphere. |
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