Face of coffin fly
Coffin flies come from the family Phoridae of wingless (or virtually wingless) flies. They are small and hump-backed, somewhat resembling a fruit fly. They hardly fly, but rather scuttle along surfaces like the dirt, able to dig up to six feet into the soil. They are only found in warm climates such as along the Mediterranean, in South Africa and in the southern part of the US.
Different specie of coffin fly
There are about 4,000 different types of coffin flies. Though known for their ability to be the only insect that can penetrate six feet of dirt, a sealed coffin, and the lack of oxygen underground to get to their "food source" (human remains), they can also be found in homes, drain pipes, and decaying plant matter. Not only are they carnivorous, but they enjoy eating dead plants, fungi, and dung. If it's dead (and hard to get to!) they are there.
Coffin fly head
Taking 25 days to hatch, the coffin fly lays 1 to 100 eggs on her dead subject. She can only lay a maximum of 750 eggs in her lifetime. By eating dead flesh, plants, and dung, the coffin fly rids the Earth of waste.
Maggot head
Even more important is the coffin fly's contribution to ridding the world of pests like the fire ant. In the 1930s, fire ants were introduced to the US (accidentally). There are 110 species that enjoy decapitating fire ants and leaving them to wander aimlessly for up to two weeks without a head, only to starve to death. The coffin fly then lays her eggs in the ant's head, which is enzyme rich and provides an excellent source of nutrition for her young. The coffin fly is so well known for it's ant beheadings that the coffin fly's tendency for chewing off ant heads is better researched than their appetite for rotting flesh!
Decapitated ant
Coffin flies notoriously crawl in vast populations in Texas and Alabama.
Some coffin flies have been known to destroy crops, particularly mushrooms.
Please note the variances of color for the different species of coffin flies. For the most part, they are orangish brown with yellowish veins. As the climate changes yeilding warmer temperatures, researchers believe coffin flies will proliferate the globe. Many agricultural professionals, farmers, and entomologists are breeding the coffin flies to rid their crops of the destructive fire ants.
Coffin fly
The problem with increasing the population of coffin ants is their need for warm climates (no cold spells please) and the threat of being ousted by larger flies who dominate for larvae "real estate". This is the reason why coffin flies have become so creative in scurrying underground seeking decay and death to eat and lay eggs upon. Underground, there are few "bullies" to contend with.
Larvae
Also, coffin flies have found more peaceful solace and abundance of decay and death in rural areas say this source. For this reason one will find many more plentiful colonies of coffin flies in the country.
Coffin fly
The diet of a coffin flies varies by season and gender as well, according to this study. In the spring, they prefer iron rich sources of food like liver. In the colder months of winter and fall, they prefer dead animals or humans. The same study states that males prefer the variable nutrition of animal remains, while females will go for the liver more often. Both sexes eat more in the warmer months, which is to be expected.
Coffin fly
However useful they are to farmers and the like, coffin flies are not a welcomed guest in mortuaries, funeral homes, restaurants or hospitals. The coffin flies like to dig into sealed cracks where it is dark and they are concealed and lay their eggs.
Coffin fly baby
By the time their human neighbors realize that they have a colony of coffin flies, the infestation has already begun. This lends to frustration to keep sanitation in check.
This site encourages people, particularly those who live in warm climates to put trash far away from doorways, to keep bags of waste tightly sealed and to wash bins regularly.
Coffin fly baby
Further advice includes to move appliances and furniture, cleaning them often as food or decay can be hidden in tight areas and to clean drains, fixing sewer leaks and pipes if necessary. Corpse flies will crawl deep into your furniture, soil, or laundry and surprise you with their young!
Maggot
Widespread defecation from these coffin flies isn't pleasant in living quarters either! The fecal matter can make one very sick. Personally, I wouldn't want this and the previous scenes to show up where I live and eat!
Maggot
Remember, they are most active in the afternoon, during the peak warmth of the day.
Maggot
To learn more about coffin flies, visit BioOne Online Journal.
Thank you to all of the owners of these pictures in this article for allowing me to publish these fine pictures!