Blue Blow Fly

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Calliphora vicina: /kæˈlɪfəɹə vaɪˈsaɪnə/

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Summary

Calliphora vicina, the blue blow fly, is an important species in forensic entomology due to its role in estimating the time of death. Its lifecycle and behavior in relation to temperature influence its role in corpse colonization.

Physical Characteristics

Calliphora vicina is known as the blue bottle fly, characterized by its metallic blue-gray coloration on the thorax and abdomen. It has bright orange jowls and black hair, with yellow or orange sclerites at the base of the coxa.

Identification Tips

Distinguished from C. vomitoria by its bright orange cheeks and yellow/orange basicosta. Size is approximately 10–11 mm in length.

Habitat

Primarily found in urban areas, especially in regions with carrion available for larval development.

Distribution

Widespread in North America, Europe, and parts of the Southern Hemisphere including scattered locations in Australia and New Zealand. First recorded in South Africa in 1965, with limited sporadic collections since.

Diet

Larvae develop in carrion.

Life Cycle

C. vicina has a life cycle of about 18 days at a temperature of 27˚C (81˚F), going through five generations in a year. Eggs are laid on fresh carrion or open wounds, with larvae passing through three instar stages before pupation.

Reproduction

A female can lay up to 300 eggs. The eggs hatch into first instar larvae after about 24 hours.

Ecosystem Role

Plays a vital role in forensic entomology; important for corpse colonization and postmortem interval estimation.

Similar Taxa

• Calliphora vomitoria
• Calliphora erythrocephala

Misconceptions

Previously thought to be nocturnally inactive, but recent studies indicated otherwise under certain conditions.

Tags

• forensic entomology
• blue blow fly
• Calliphoridae
• carrion fly