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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of flesh fly

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325

Example Sentences

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

Would it not be the same with the pupa of the flesh fly?

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

The flesh fly, Musca Cæsar, or the Blue-bottle fly, feeds upon decaying animal matter.

From Our Common Insects A Popular Account of the Insects of Our Fields, Forests, Gardens and Houses by Packard, A. S. (Alpheus Spring)

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

Yes, of a certainty, the offspring of the flesh fly and the bluebottle are expeditious workers.

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