Corpse eating fly

THIS species of fly was declared extinct more than 100 years ago. Here's the problem. It's still buzzing around, feasting merrily on decaying corpses.

The 'bone-skipper', or Centrophlebomyia anthropophaga if you're in a scientific mood, once developed quite a reputation for eating human remains. Not fresh remains, mind you. These flies prefer bodies in advanced stages of decomposition.

Thankfully, their diet isn't exclusively human. Bone-skippers love to pick over large animals, and researchers believe they flourished several centuries ago when those animals were more plentiful.

Incidentally, the flies are nicknamed bone-skippers because of the manner in which they skip along the bones of a decaying body, making it look "alive with larvae". My, what a beautiful image.

Bone-skippers supposedly disappeared about 160 years ago, and achieved near-mythical status in the scientific community. Yes, they have myths about flesh-eating flies.