Lucilia coeruleiviridis
Macquart, 1855
Blue-green Bottle Fly, Green Bottle Fly
Lucilia coeruleiviridis is one of the most common and ubiquitous blow fly in the southeastern United States, with a range extending throughout the eastern US. This species is forensically important, frequently used for minimum postmortem interval (mPMI) estimation in death investigations. Larval development is strongly temperature-dependent, with optimal growth occurring at warm temperatures. The species was first described by French entomologist Justin Pierre Marie Macquart in 1855 and was formerly placed in the Phaenecia.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Lucilia coeruleiviridis: /luˈsɪliə koɪˌruːliˈvɪrɪdɪs/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Metallic blue-green and . Distinguished from other Lucilia by specific coloration and geographic distribution. In forensic contexts, correct species identification is critical as different species have different development rates; L. coeruleiviridis develops more slowly at cooler temperatures compared to .
Images
Habitat
Eastern and southeastern United States; warm temperature environments. Associated with carrion and decaying organic matter.
Distribution
Eastern US; Southeastern US. One of the most ubiquitous blow fly in the southeastern United States.
Life Cycle
Complete with , larval, pupal, and stages. Larval development includes first instar, second instar, third instar, and wandering stages. Development is temperature-dependent: mean development times to wandering stage are 89.95 hours at 22°C, 69.24 hours at 29°C, and 51.02 hours at 36°C. Minimum developmental temperature is 9.8°C. Larvae show higher mortality and slower growth at 22°C compared to warmer temperatures.
Behavior
Temperature-dependent growth; develops best at warm temperatures corresponding with its geographic distribution.
Ecological Role
Forensic used for minimum postmortem interval (mPMI) estimation. Carrion decomposer contributing to nutrient cycling and decomposition of vertebrate remains.
Human Relevance
Used in to estimate time of death in criminal investigations. Development data enables more accurate mPMI calculations in the southeastern US.
Similar Taxa
- Lucilia sericataCommon green bottle fly used in ; distinguished by geographic distribution and specific use cases
- Lucilia cuprinaBronze bottle fly; introduced worldwide by human commerce, causes economic damage as Australian sheep blow fly
- Phormia reginaBlack blow fly; slower development rate, active in spring and fall avoiding extreme temperatures
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Bohart Museum Features UC Davis Forensic Entomologist Bob Kimsey | Bug Squad
- Learning About the Importance of Blow Flies Through Maggot Art | Bug Squad
- Bug Eric: City Nature Challenge 2024 Recap
- Bug Eric: City Nature Challenge 2023 Recap
- How Blow Flies Compete (or Not) for Decomposition Duties
- Entomological Medicine: Working to Bring Maggot Therapy Into Wider Use
- Lucilia coeruleiviridis (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larval growth rates at three constant temperatures