Key to Calypterate families

Adapted from Unwin’s family key (1981) and the HIBI Tachinid key

References
Unwin (1981) A key to the families of British Diptera, Field Studies 5
Belshaw R. (1993) Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects: Tachinid
Flies Diptera: Tachinidae (Volume 10:4a(i))

Checklist for section Calyptratae

Superfamily Oestroidea Superfamily Muscoidea
Family Calliphoridae Family Scathophagidae
Family Rhinophoridae Family Anthomyiidae
Family Sarcophagidae Family Fanniidae
Family Tachinidae Family Muscidae
Family Oestridae
Family Polleniidae

The flies in this group all have

1. A rounded swelling on the side of the thorax at the extreme base of the
wing - variously termed the greater ampulla, infra-alar bulla or sub-alar
knob. This feature is lacking from almost all other groups.

2. A furrow up the front of the 2nd segment of the

antennae (pedicel), termed the dorsal seam.

In addition most species of calyptrates have

vibrissae - strong crossed bristles from the front of
the mouth margin. The few other non-calyptrate
families with an ampulla lack vibrissae. Also the
suture across the top of the thorax is continuous in
calyptrates and absent in the middle in
acalypterates.

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
1 Side of the thorax with a vertical to
curved row of at least 3 strong bristles
(green) on the meron (outlined in red)
above the base of the hind leg.
(Superfamily Oestroidea). ..................2
These are the meral bristles formerly known as the
hypopleural bristles.

Thorax without strong meral bristles. (Superfamily Muscoidea). ..........12

A few species of Helina have a line of very short hairs on the meron

This character is used to divide the "normal-looking" calypterate flies into two large groups of
families, called superfamilies. It is easy to see these bristles except if the hind legs have set
in such a way to obscure them, or the background colour of the side of the thorax is black and
the specimen has become greasy. There are further differences in the end segments of the
abdomen in both sexes, but these are difficult to see without dissection

Superfamily Muscoidea usually have vein m

relatively straight and ending well behind the wing
tip and have vein a1 longer, sometimes continuing
to the wing margin.

Superfamily Oestroidea usually have vein m clearly bent

and ending well before the wing tip and have vein a1
shortened.

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
2 Mouth opening often hidden by hairs and less than
one tenth the width of the head. Proboscis very small
or absent. Antennae usually comparatively small.
Length 10-14 mm. Body without bristles and often
with a dense covering of hairs giving a bee-like
appearance. ...........................................................
.......... Family Oestridae
The larvae of this family are parasites of larger mammals.

Mouth opening without hairs covering it

and at least one fifth the width of the
head. Proboscis distinct and obvious
(but often folded inside the mouth
opening). Body with clear bristles. ....3
Sometimes a dense patchy covering of pale hairs will
be present as well as the black bristles.

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
3 Subscutellum large and evenly rounded. Hairs
absent from the proepisternum. Segments of
the abdomen often with robust bristles arising
from either side of the centre of the segment. ....
.......... Family Tachinidae
Note on the subscutellum: a number of flies will have the
metanotum swollen and evenly rounded. If the rear of the thorax
of a tachinid is inspected there will be three structures visible –
from top to bottom, the scutellum, subscutellum and metanotum. In
other families only two structures will be seen, the scutellum and
metanotum or if a middle layer is visible it will be very narrow and
not protruding.

Subscutellum weakly developed or absent;

Hairs sometimes present on the
proepisternum. Segments of the abdomen
never with robust bristles arising either side
of the centre of the segments. ..................4
Note that it is hairs that are referred to, not the bristles
that arise from the very bottom of the proepisternum
immediately above the base of the front legs.

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
4 Wing with vein m curving upwards, ending on vein
r4+5 well before the apex of the wing, so there is only
one vein joining close to the wing apex. This vein is
described as a petiole and is more than twice the
length of cross vein r-m. .........................................5

Wing without such a petiole, or if it is present it is much

shorter than cross vein r-m. Vein m may be gently
curved or sharply bent. .........................................6

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
5 Abdomen without bristles on its upper surface.
Length 3-4 mm. Body entirely reflective black.
Parafacial area without hairs or bristles. .........
.......... Litophasia hyalipennis
In family Tachinidae.

Abdomen with several pairs of bristles on its upper surface. ......................

.......... Family Rhinophoridae
Small, slender black flies, never metallic.

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
6 Vein m forming a smooth curve or straight line
between cross vein m-cu and the wing margin.
Length 2-5 mm. Body entirely reflective black. .....
.......... Family Tachinidae
Enter Belshaw’s Tachinidae key at couplet 107.

Vein m with a distinct bend between cross

vein m-cu and the wing margin. .................7

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
7 Abdomen metallic blue or green when viewed with the naked eye. ............
.......... Family Calliphoridae
For key to species see https://quelestcetanimal-lagalerie.com/wp-
content/uploads/2017/01/testkeytobritishblowflies132016.pdf.

Abdomen not metallic blue or green. ........................................................8

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
8 Thorax with numerous yellow or white
hairs in addition to black bristles. ..........9

Thorax without yellow or white hairs. ......................................................10

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
9 Lower part of the face projecting and partly
shining black. Abdomen with tergites 3 and 4
usually having paler bands towards the sides,
orange-yellow in males and weaker or absent in
females. ..............................................................
.......... Family Rhinidae
One British species Stomorhina lunata

© J A Gaspar (2008) CC BY-SA 3.0

Lower part of the face not projecting as above. Abdomen usually with a
silvery and grey chequered pattern that shifts when viewed from different
angles. .........................................................................................................
.......... Family Polliniidae

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
10 Proepisternum with hairs. ..........................
.......... Family Calliphoridae
For key to species see https://quelestcetanimal-
lagalerie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/
testkeytobritishblowflies132016.pdf

Proepisternum without hairs. .................................................................11

NB Nyctia halterata in Sarcophagidae is variable in this respect, with hairs varying from none to
seven. It does not have a tessellated abdomen, it being wholly black and glossy and has the base
and the leading edge of the wing smoky black. Note again that it is hairs that are referred to here,
not any bristles that arise from the very bottom of the proepisternum.

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
11 Lower squama running alongside the
scutellum. Length 3-15 mm. in
length. Vein m may have an
extension from the sharp bend,
sometimes only a darker pigmented
line (red arrow). .............................
.......... Family Sarcophagidae
Many of the species are grey with a grey and
black chequered appearance (which changes its
appearance when the fly is tilted) on the
abdomen and three black stripes along the top of
the thorax. The posthumeral bristle (green) is
situated higher than or level with the presutural
bristle (orange). The flesh flies with 16 genera
and 63 species.

Lower squama diverging away from the scutellum.

Length 3-9 mm. Vein m without an extension
from the sharp bend. .............................................
.......... Family Rhinophoridae
Prosternum bare. The posterior thoracic spiracle is more or less
circular without a distinct operculum but with a fringe of erect hairs.
Coxopleural stripe well developed. Margins of abdominal tergite 2
overlapping the margins of sternite 2. Male sternite 5 bifid with
large lateral lobes.

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
12 Lower squama large, as long as or longer than the
upper one, therefore projecting from below the
upper squama when the wings are closed. .......13

Lower squama short, at most half the length of the upper. ....................15

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
13 Anal vein (vein a) extends to the margin –
sometimes the vein is not pigmented right to the
margin and ends in a slight depression or fold. ..
.......... Family Anthomyiidae
Frons often with a pair of crossed bristles; often with fine pale
hairs pointing downwards from the scutellum. 34 genera and 218 species.

Vein a not reaching margin. ....................................................................14

Never with both crossed bristles and fine pale hairs under the scutellum.

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
14 Veins a2 and a1 short, their paths not
convergent. Last part of the subcosta usually
twice curved and clearly curving up to meet
the front of the wing. ......................................
.......... Family Muscidae
45 genera, 178 species

Vein a2 longer and usually fainter than vein a1,

their paths becoming convergent, such that
they would meet if they continued, before
reaching the wing margin. Last part of the
subcosta evenly curving to meet the costa. ..
.......... Family Fanniidae
2 genera, 59 species. If the anal veins converge like this and
there are crossed bristles in the middle of the frontalia then
see subfamily Azeliinae in family Muscidae. Mid tibia of
males often thickened on the apical half and with dense short
hairs on the ventral surface. Hind tibia with a dorsal bristle at
about half way.

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)
Three options

15 Back of head flattened above, without fine pale hairs

below. Anal vein (vein a) extends to the margin of the
wing. ............................................................................
.......... Family Anthomyiidae

Back of head flattened in the upper part and

without fine hairs in the lower part. Anal vein
does not reach the margin. Vein a2 often longer
than vein a1 if it continued. Subcosta often
more or less straight or gently curved in the last
half. ...............................................................14

Back of head rounded with fine, pale hairs below. .....

.......... Family Scathophagidae
Medium to large, predatory flies. Lower squama reduced to a narrow
strip. Eyes well separated in both sexes. The bristles of the head, thorax
and abdomen are much weaker and sparser compared to the other
calypterate families. No crossed bristles on the frons. Sternopleura with
only a single bristle. 23 genera and 54 species. The hairs behind the
head are weak in Leptopa which is a small yellow fly with large downward
pointed vibrissae, and a group of large, downward-pointing bristles at the
back of the jowls, just below the eye.

© Mike Hackston (2021). Adapted from Unwin (1981) and Belshaw

(1993)