Calliphora

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Calliphora: /kæˈlɪfərə/

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Summary

Calliphora vomitoria, commonly known as the blue bottle fly, is a significant species in forensic science due to its role in decomposing organic matter and estimating time of death. It is recognized for its striking metallic blue coloration and orange setae and is widely distributed across various continents.

Physical Characteristics

Blue bottle flies are typically 10–14 mm long, with a head and thorax that are dull gray. The abdomen is bright metallic blue with black markings. The back of the head has long yellow-orange setae, and the body is covered with black bristly hairs. They have red eyes, transparent wings, short aristate antennae, and four tarsi per leg. The legs and antennae are black and pink, and the chest is bright purple with spikes for protection from other flies.

Identification Tips

C. vomitoria can be distinguished from C. vicina by its characteristic 'orange cheeks' (orange hairs below the eyes) and the presence of a dark basicosta (base of the wing) compared to the yellow basicosta of C. vicina.

Habitat

C. vomitoria prefers higher elevations and is found predominantly in rural and riparian areas during winter and summer. In spring and fall, they are more commonly found in riparian areas.

Distribution

Found throughout the world including most of Europe, Alaska, Greenland, southern Mexico, the United States, and southern Africa. Most abundant in spring and summer.

Diet

Adults feed on nectar and are pollinators, while larvae feed on decaying animal remains. They thrive on processed substrates such as minced meats more than raw unmodified substrates.

Life Cycle

C. vomitoria undergoes a complete cycle of egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Development takes around 2 weeks, starting with the female laying eggs in decaying matter, leading to the hatching of larvae (maggots) which feed on the matter before pupating and emerging as adults.

Reproduction

Female C. vomitoria lay their eggs at carrion sites shortly after death, and oviposition rates can increase in high larval density scenarios due to chemical stimulation from pheromones.

Ecosystem Role

They play an important role in the decomposition process and are significant for forensic entomology due to their predictability in lifecycle stages following death.

Economic Impact

They can assist in pollination but may also transmit pathogenic bacteria to crops.

Health Concerns

C. vomitoria can cause myiasis in humans and animals.

Similar Taxa

• Calliphora vicina
• Lucilia sericata

Tags

• blue bottle fly
• forensic entomology
• Calliphora
• insect
• pollinator