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Green Bottle Flies in the genus Calliphora are medium-sized blow flies, about 8 to 14 mm long, with a brilliant metallic green or blue-green body. The thorax and abdomen shine like polished metal and are covered with stiff black bristles. The large compound eyes are reddish brown, the wings are clear, and the legs are black. These are real, US-collected specimens from Douglas County, Wisconsin.
The genus is found nearly worldwide. Several species are common across North America, including Wisconsin. Adults are often seen on flowers, sunny walls, garbage, manure and carrion in yards, farms, woodlands and towns.
Adults feed on nectar, honeydew and liquids from decaying matter. Females lay eggs on dead animals, meat scraps or, in some cases, on wounds of livestock. The larvae (maggots) feed on the soft tissues and help break down carcasses. Some species are used in forensic work to help estimate time of death, and sterile larvae of Calliphora sericata are used in medicine to clean infected wounds (maggot therapy).
Like other flies, they go through complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). Eggs hatch in hours to a few days. Larvae feed, then leave the food to pupate in soil or nearby debris. In warm weather the whole cycle can take only a couple of weeks, and there are several generations a year. A mid-June specimen from Wisconsin fits the active summer flight period.
Green Bottle Flies are both helpful and harmful. As scavengers they clean up dead animals, and they are useful in forensic science and wound care. On the other hand, larvae can cause myiasis (fly-strike) in sheep and other livestock, and adults can carry bacteria from garbage and carrion onto food. They are not a threat to sound wood or plants.
This preserved specimen educates on the metallic blow flies that are so familiar around homes and farms, suitable for displays or studies. Check it out on BugGuide! https://bugguide.net/node/view/7176
Green Bottle Flies in the genus Calliphora are medium-sized blow flies, about 8 to 14 mm long, with a brilliant metallic green or blue-green body. The thorax and abdomen shine like polished metal and are covered with stiff black bristles. The large compound eyes are reddish brown, the wings are clear, and the legs are black. These are real, US-collected specimens from Douglas County, Wisconsin.
The genus is found nearly worldwide. Several species are common across North America, including Wisconsin. Adults are often seen on flowers, sunny walls, garbage, manure and carrion in yards, farms, woodlands and towns.
Adults feed on nectar, honeydew and liquids from decaying matter. Females lay eggs on dead animals, meat scraps or, in some cases, on wounds of livestock. The larvae (maggots) feed on the soft tissues and help break down carcasses. Some species are used in forensic work to help estimate time of death, and sterile larvae of Calliphora sericata are used in medicine to clean infected wounds (maggot therapy).
Like other flies, they go through complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). Eggs hatch in hours to a few days. Larvae feed, then leave the food to pupate in soil or nearby debris. In warm weather the whole cycle can take only a couple of weeks, and there are several generations a year. A mid-June specimen from Wisconsin fits the active summer flight period.
Green Bottle Flies are both helpful and harmful. As scavengers they clean up dead animals, and they are useful in forensic science and wound care. On the other hand, larvae can cause myiasis (fly-strike) in sheep and other livestock, and adults can carry bacteria from garbage and carrion onto food. They are not a threat to sound wood or plants.
This preserved specimen educates on the metallic blow flies that are so familiar around homes and farms, suitable for displays or studies. Check it out on BugGuide! https://bugguide.net/node/view/7176
| Weight | 0.01 lbs |
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