Melanophora roralis

Melanophora roralis is a species of woodlouse fly in the family Calliphoridae.^[13][14]

Melanophora roralis
female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Calliphoridae
Subfamily:	Rhinophorinae
Tribe:	Phytonini
Genus:	Melanophora
Species:	M. roralis
Binomial name
Melanophora roralis (Linnaeus, 1758)[1]
Synonyms
Illigeria atra Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830[2] Illigeria brasiliensis Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863[3] Illigeria minor Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830[2] Melanophora americana Macquart, 1844[4] Melanophora appendiculata Macquart, 1855[5] Melanophora atra Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830[2] Melanophora distincta Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830[2] Melanophora festiva Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830[2] Melanophora nigerrima Macquart, 1834[6] Melanophora nitidiventris Curran, 1928[7] Melanophora stygia Harris, 1835[8] Melanophora violacea Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830[2] Musca atra Devillers, 1789[9] Musca grossificationis Linnaeus, 1758[1] Musca interventum Harris, 1780[10] Musca roralis Linnaeus, 1758[1] Tachina interlapsa Walker, 1853[11] Tachina plumigera Wiedemann, 1830[12]

Description

M. roralis is 3–5.5 millimetres (0.12–0.22 in) long, black in colour with hairy antennae and a shiny thorax.

Distribution

It was introduced to North America from Europe^[15] and can be found from Southern Ontario^[16] to Chile and Argentina.^[17]

Ecology

Species fly from mid-May to October and inhabit old forests and damp areas near the shore.^[16] The females of this species have a distinctive white spots at the tips of their wings^[18] and lay from 189 to 238 eggs in 6.5 to 7.5 hours.^[19] It takes up to 21 days for the species' to pupate. It is a parasite of Porcellio scaber.^[20]