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I am trying to work out what the R5 cell is, as refered to by ChrisR as being a good indicator of Sarcophagidae. If it is the cell I think it is, it looks much the same in other calyptarate families, in Australian flies anyway. I've drawn a line to what I think is the R5 cell on this picture of a wing from a Sarcophagid fly.

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The line points to the basal r cell. R5 is the next distal cell, on the opposite side of r-m.

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Thanks John, I now know which cell to compare. It looks much the same in Tachinidae though.

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John, as an afterthought. If a tachinid has an elongate R5 cell, it will not have the short stub vein at the bend in M as Sarcophagids do.
Cheers, Graeme

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Spotting sarcophagids is really all about noting a combination of features. The elongate R5 (note how as it approaches the wing-tip it narrows strongly due to the bit of m after the bend being very concave) in combination with reddish eyes and 3 strong, dark longitudinal vitae ... and often a plumose arista, with a checker-board pattern of dusting on the abdomen. :)

This looks like a sarcophagid to me :)

I'm not sure whether the appendix on m would be much of a guide ... tachinids often don't have it but a few do.

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Thanks Chris for your comments. I was using the key on CSIRO's site for my comments re the appendix of m as an indication for Sarcophagidae. But as you point out this feature can also occur in Tachinidae. I note that spotting sarcophagids is about recognizing a combination of features.
Cheers, Graeme