Golden dung fly

Golden dung fly occurs in Europe, Africa, Japan, and North America. It is very common throughout the United States and in southern Canada. In some areas it is one of the most abundant species of fly. It is found wherever large mammals occur, especially in cattle farming areas.

Adults are slender, ¼″ to ⅜″ long, and similar to house flies in appearance. Males are larger and golden-brown, females are smaller and greenish. Both sexes are hairy, but the male is much hairier.

There are bristles on the face and on the top of the head. There are two large compound eyes at the side of the head and three small simple eyes (ocelli) in a triangle at the top of the head. The compound eyes are orangish-brown and hairless. They do not meet at the top of the head in either sex. There is a V-shaped groove (suture) on the face just above the antennae bases. The antennae have three segments. The second segment has a longitudinal groove (suture) on top. The third segment has a short, forward-pointed bristle (arista) on the upper side.

The thorax is heavily bristled. The plate (hypopleuron) on the thorax just above the basal segment of hind leg (coxa) has no bristles. The plate between the throax and the abdomen (scutellum) has four bristles.

The abdomen is slender and densely covered with hairs.

As with all flies, there is only one pair of wings, the hind wings being reduced to small, knob-like structures (halteres) that are used for balance in flight. The wings are smoky brown and clear, with no dark spots. At the base of each wing there are two small, rounded lobes (calypters) that cover the halteres. The calypters are well-developed. The first posterior cell (R₅) is has parallel sides. The second anal vein (2A) reaches the inner margin.

The legs are long and slender. The third segment (femur) of each leg on the male is densely covered below with long, brightly colored hairs. On the female, the femora have fewer hairs, and those are not brightly colored.

Total length: ¼″ to ⅜″

Two to four generations per year: March to November

Eggs are laid on raised areas of the dung of large mammals, especially cattle. The eggs hatch in one or two days. The larvae burrow into the soil and pupate after 10 to 20 days. Juvenile flies emerge in 10 to 80 days, depending on the temperature. Adults live one or two months. There are two to four overlapping generations per year.

Dung of large mammals

Mostly other fly species, occasionally other insects, including other golden dung flies when other food is scarce

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