Booking via World Museum events page – tickets are £15

The principal aim of this two-day workshop is to help participants learn how to identify Flesh flies Sarcophagidae.

The British Sarcophagidae fauna is a medium sized family, containing 65 species in 16 genera. Sarcophagidae are frequently encountered in the field. Specimens are medium to large sized, making this a manageable family to start recording. There is an active recording scheme which can provide support regarding identification of specimens, and there is a good range of identification resources, including keys and extensive photos.

The workshop will cover:

• An overview of the British flesh fly fauna;
• Recognising Sarcophagidae and distinguishing them from other similar looking fly families;
• Identification of key features such as bristle positions, head profiles and components of the genital capsule;
• Recognising the various genera of flesh flies;
• Using the genitalia of males as an aid to identification in the frequently occurring and largest genus – Sarcophaga;
• Separating three very common, but similar species – Sarcophaga carnaria, S. subvicina and S. variegata;
• Techniques for finding and collecting flesh flies;
• Submitting records to the UK Sarcophagidae Recording Scheme;
• An overview of resources to aid the identification of flesh flies.

Our tutor:  Nigel Jones is County Diptera Recorder for Shropshire. He also co-organises the Flesh flies – Sarcophagidae Recording Scheme, the Empididae element of the Dolichopodidiae, Empididae and Hybotidae Recording Scheme. He recently launched the Lance fly – Lonchaeidae Study Group.

Adults only (18+)

Access: There are lifts between each of the floors and assistance dogs are permitted

Adults only (18+)