The fly Megaselia scalaris is a member of the order Diptera and the family Phoridae, widely distributed in warm regions of the world. The family members are commonly known as the "humpbacked fly", the "coffin fly", and the "scuttle fly". The name "scuttle fly" derives from the jerky, short bursts of running, characteristic to the adult fly. The name "coffin fly" is due to their being found in coffins, digging six feet deep in order to reach buried carrion. It is one of the more common species found within the family Phoridae; more than 370 species have been identified within North America.