A comprehensive Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) study of the distal portion of the male phallus (acrophallus), in 42 species of the flesh-fly subfamily Sarcophaginae, was undertaken to clarify its morphology, to homologize its parts and to define male genital characters. In addition, to better understand the phylogenetic implications of the male genitalia, the generic relationships of 19 sarcophagine genera were tested using a parsimony analysis of 72 examplar species, based on 41 male genitalic characters and 33 other morphological characters of larvae, males and females. The monophyly of Ravinia Robineau-Desvoidy, Oxysarcodexia Townsend, Titanogrypa Townsend, Helicobia Coquillett, Lepidodexia Brauer & Bergenstamm and Sarcophaga s.l. Meigen was supported, but Blaesoxipha Loew appeared paraphyletic. The genus Helicobia was nested within Sarcophaga and the subgenus S. (Neobellieria) Blanchard was found to be polyphyletic. The analysis also supported a sister-group relationship between the type species of S. (Neobellieria) and the subgenus S. (Tolucamyia) Dodge. Based on that cladistic analysis, S. (Tolucamyia) was synonymized with S. (Neobellieria) which was redefined to include the five species of the S. (N.) polistensis group, those previously assigned to S. (Tolucamyia) and one new species. To accommodate the four species of the S. (N.) semimarginalis Hall group and four new species, a new subgenus, S. (Bulbostyla) Giroux & Wheeler, was erected. Finally, Robackina Lopes was reinstated as a subgenus of Sarcophaga to accommodate the single species S. triplasia Wulp.

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