Dipterists Forum, Muscidae and Fanniidae Study Group

The Muscidae are a highly diverse family including some large and noticeable species, such as Mesembrina meridiana, the well-known Musca domestica, and some confusion species, like the greenbottles in genus Neomyia. Many people have heard of house flies and may know a few of the more prominent species. Few people are aware of the full range of species. The British list currently includes 293 species in 40 genera. Although commonly called house flies, very few are truly synanthropic. The ecology of these species is very diverse with larval habitats including dung, carrion, fungi, damp mosses, mud, saltmarsh, dead wood and birds’ nests. Others attack animals and are important as vectors of livestock disease. The Fanniidae, commonly known as Lesser House Flies, are closely related and until recently were regarded as a subfamily of the Muscidae. Their addition into the range of interest of the Group adds 61 species in 2 genera.

The Muscidae & Fanniidae Study Group (MFSG) has now been established under the auspices of The Dipterists Forum, dedicated to promoting interest among UK dipterists, entomologists, general naturalists and the public in the Muscidae & Fanniidae (M&F).

As a Study Group rather than a Recording Scheme we do not aim to collect and process records but will encourage submission via iRecord and will work to increase the verification effort.