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

See Examples For:

flesh fly

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 ● Dec. 9, 2022

From time to time, the bluebottle and the flesh fly perch on the trellis-work, make a short investigation and then decamp.

From The Life of the fly; with which are interspersed some chapters of autobiography by Teixeira de Mattos, Alexander

The language of science knows her as Sarcophaga, the flesh eater; in the vulgar tongue she is the grey flesh fly, or simply the flesh fly.

From The Life of the fly; with which are interspersed some chapters of autobiography by Teixeira de Mattos, Alexander

It is chemotropism, not solicitude for its offspring, which drives the flesh fly to lay its eggs on decaying meat.

From Being Well-Born An Introduction to Eugenics by Guyer, Michael F.

The Bluebottle carefully refrains from laying her eggs upon it and the flesh fly from bringing forth her offspring, both of them knowing that their newborn young are incapable of piercing the obstacle.

From The Life of the fly; with which are interspersed some chapters of autobiography by Teixeira de Mattos, Alexander