General Description

Body grey-black with red-brown eyes. Body up to 1 cm long.

Biology

The young maggots (larvae) of these flies feed on dung of cattle, sheep and kangaroos. They were recorded in the earliest written records of insects in Australia, before Captain Cook arrived in the 1700s. Adult flies are attracted to body fluids such as sweat, saliva and tears.

Distribution

Mainland Australia and Tasmania.

Habitat

Forest and farmland areas.

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