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Flesh Fly on Leaf


Flesh Fly on Leaf
Photo Information
Copyright: Ram Thakur (ramthakur) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4316 W: 231 N: 14052] (56953)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-20
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma EX 105mm F2.8 DG Macro, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-07 1:12
Viewed: 3469
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Friends, Flesh Flies are considered to be vile creatures by most of us.
However, they have the best looking eyes among all flies. I used to photograph them with glee whenever they appeared in my garden in Saudi Arabia.
I felt that I had done this image quite well, so I am posting it today.

Here is the note taken from Wikipedia:

Flies of the Diptera family Sarcophagidae (from the Greek sarco- = corpse, phage = eating; the same roots as the word "sarcophagus") are commonly known as flesh flies. Most flesh flies breed in carrion, dung, or decaying material, but a few species lay their eggs in the open wounds of mammals;[1] hence their common name. Some flesh fly larvae are internal parasites of other insects. These larvae, commonly known as maggots, live for about 5-10 days, before descending into the soil and maturing into adulthood. At that stage, they live for 5-7 days.

Biology

Flesh-fly maggots occasionally eat other larvae although this is usually because the other larvae are smaller and get in the way. They also eat the larvae of grasshoppers and also eat beetles, snails, and caterpillars, especially the forest tent caterpillar. This habit can be useful for biological control. Flesh-flies and their larvae are also known to eat decaying vegetable matter and excrement and they may be found around compost piles and pit latrines.

Flesh-flies frequently give birth to live young on corpses of human and other animals, at any stage of decomposition from newly dead through to bloated or decaying (though the latter is more common).

The life cycle of flesh-fly larvae has been well researched and is very predictable. Different species prefer bodies in different states of decomposition, and the specific preferences and predictable life cycle timings allows forensic entomologists to understand the progress of decomposition and enables the calculation of the time of death by back extrapolation. This is done by determining the oldest larva of each species present, measuring the ambient temperature and from these values, calculating the earliest possible date and time for deposition of larvae. This yields an approximate time and date of death (d.o.d.) This evidence can be used in forensic entomology investigations and may assist in identification of a corpse by matching the calculated time of death with reports of missing persons. Such evidence has also been used to help identify murderers.


Association with Disease

Flesh-flies can carry leprosy bacilli and can transmit intestinal pseudomyiasis to people who eat the flesh-fly larvae. Flesh-flies can also cause myiasis in animals, mostly to sheep, and can give them blood poisoning, or asymptomatic leprosy infections.

TFL
rcrick, haraprasan, jusninasirun, aes_thor, matatur, eng55, gannu, maurydv, goldyrs, albert has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Dear Ram,

You never cease to amaze me how a simple fly on a leaf can look so stunning, excellent detail and wonderful colours, a splash of pink in the OOF background, pin sharp, just wonderful.

Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 479 W: 60 N: 970] (3088)
  • [2008-05-07 1:32]

Dear neighbour of the day:)
Flies can repel, but when they come as stunning as they look up here, they can be dear little lives flitting around.Crisp shot of this fly, in great lighting and a beautiful composition.Good amount of details seen and very informative notes.
TFS & Cheers

Hello Ram. Fine delivery from your meticulous work. I like the muted and yet colorful background with super sharp image of the fly. Very pleasant crop and well done. Jusni

Hi Mr. Ram,
I am your neighbor today. A lovely capture of this beautiful flesh fly (but not so beautiful work that it does). Excellent composition and sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Ram!

Fine macro, nice red eyes:), simple composition, good sharpness. Well done!
cheers
Adrian

Merhaba Dostum,
Again a perfect macro shot, in this instance displaying all the salient characteristics of a flesh fly, beginning with the eyes! Some may consider them to be vile creatures Ram, but a nature lover knows that they serve a serious duty clearing the environment from dead and putrefying animal matter. Seemingly less vile mosquitos also carry disease vectors but at least I haven't heard what role they play in nature beneficiary to mankind or to the living world, except maybe becoming food to some animals. Relating to the term "sarcos-Gr. sarko", up to now I thought it meant "flesh", we use the related terms "sarcolemma, sarcoplasma, sarcomere, sarcosome, etc." in relation to the "flesh building" striated muscle tissue, a "sarcophagus" does not consume a corpse as a whole, just "eats" the flesh out, leaving the bones, etc., back!
Best regards,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1256 W: 42 N: 1976] (5892)
  • [2008-05-07 2:38]

Hi Ram,
Beautiful close up.I liked colors,lighting,exposure and composition very much.Frame is also nice.
Thanks for posting..

Splendida macro, ottimi POV e DOF, eccellente taglio compositivo con la foglia che porta in scena l'insetto, ottima nitidezza e molto belli i colori e BG. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Sir,
You keep outdoing yourself each day, with each new shot.I wish my learning curve was as short as yours, Sir.
Once again, one only feels humbled by such work.
Thank you!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2008-05-07 9:34]

Hi Ram,the details of the eyes are impressive,excellent colours and shaprness,thanks for share and for the interesting note too,have a nice day,Luciano

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1739 W: 224 N: 6872] (24909)
  • [2008-05-07 13:25]

A flesh-flies habits are vile but the fly itself is amazing! I've never stopped loving those bright red eyes :-)
A great vibrent image.
Gorgeous colours and the warm light is excellent!
Very well composed and a decent POV.
Brilliant DOF that has rendered the BG completely blurred.
Well done Ram!

TFS!!
Joe

Excelente encuadre y unos impresionantes colores. Gran belleza del conjunto.
Un abrazo Ram: Josep Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1457 W: 0 N: 1176] (6526)
  • [2008-05-07 22:43]

Hi Ram,
This is a very beautiful shot! Excellent composition, very sharp detail and great colours.
Chi

Hello Ram,
The finer details in this little creature is so well recorded!
The bright eyes make a fine colour contrast to the greenery, and the sharpness in the subject makes it stand out well on the surroundings...
Attractive, dynamic composition, fine colour palette!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 988 W: 4 N: 3277] (14761)
  • [2008-05-08 1:52]

Sir Superb the green leaf with the green BG and superb RED eyed fly. Excellent sharpness. Smiley tmrw sir.

Hi Ram
You really gave some plus to this vile but useful creature
Good macro with excellent details
TFS
Albert

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1772 W: 36 N: 5597] (18598)
  • [2008-05-08 14:12]

Hi Ram,
Outstanding shot of this little Flesh Fly with such lovely colours and sharp details. Those red eyes really does look gorgeous. Superb bright sunlight and the Bg looks so special. Excellent DOF, POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Ram,
you captured this fly very sharp and detailed.
Colors are nice. Well done
TFS Tatjana

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