Megaselia scalaris (LOEW 1866)

Sadeghi, S., Weber, G., Fallahzadeh, M. & A. F, 2013, Introduction to the Scuttle Flies Fauna (Diptera: Phoridae) of Fars Province, Iran, Linzer biologische Beiträge 45 (2), pp. 2019-2024 : 2021

Megaselia scalaris (LOEW 1866)

S p e c i m e n s e x a m i n e d 1: Jahrom; 28 50 N 53 54 E, 1018 m, 26 May 2011, Malaise-trap in alfalfa field [ Medicago sativa L. ( Fabaceae )].

H o s t: The larvae breed in a wider range of decaying organic materials than any other insect, occasionally they are facultative parasitoids of invertebrates, probably when they are already debilitated, and are also facultative parasites (myiasis agents) of vertebrates, including man. The large literature on this species has recently been reviewed ( DISNEY 2008a).

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Antarctic, Arabia, Austria, North Africa, North America, southern Europe, Canary Islands ( DISNEY 2008a, b, DISNEY et al. 2010). This is a tramp species that is widely transported around the world by man ( NICKOLLS & DISNEY 2001) to all warm parts of the world and to temperate regions in situations where it can avoid frosts (such as indoors) ( DISNEY 2009).