flesh fly

American  

noun

1. any fly of the family Sarcophagidae, comprising species that deposit their eggs or larvae in carrion or in the flesh of living animals.

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flesh fly British  

noun

1. any dipterous fly of the genus Sarcophaga , esp S. carnaria , whose larvae feed on carrion or the tissues of living animals: family Calliphoridae

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Etymology

Origin of flesh fly

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325

Example Sentences

Also, the flower gets pollinated by the insects attracted to its rotten smell, “typically sweat bees, flesh flies and carrion beetles who enjoy the pungent odor,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

For a while, the common flesh fly, which does not occur in the Americas, appeared there in great abundance on iNaturalist’s maps.

From New York Times

During its peak it emits an odor of rotting flesh to attract carrion beetles and flesh flies that help its pollination process.

From Washington Post

The bloom of the “corpse plant” lasts just 48 hours and during its peak it emits a putrid odor of rotting flesh to attract carrion beetles and flesh flies that help its pollination process.

From Seattle Times

“But just as often it’s, like, a flesh fly, a bottle fly or a cluster fly, and those are really great and interesting species that you should know about.”

From New York Times