Bronze Bottle Fly

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lucilia cuprina: /luˈsɪliə ˈkuːprɪnə/

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Summary

Lucilia cuprina, or the Australian sheep blowfly, is a significant pest in the sheep industry known for causing flystrike. Its lifecycle and feeding habits pose serious threats to sheep health, requiring various control measures. It is also relevant in forensic science for estimating time of death based on its lifecycle stage at crime scenes.

Physical Characteristics

Lucilia cuprina is characterized by a metallic green or blue abdomen with bronze/coppery reflections, reddish eyes, and a round to oval body shape, measuring 4.5–10 mm in length. It has two pairs of wings, the first pair being membranous, and bristles on the meron. Furthermore, the arista is plumose, and it is distinguished by strong dorsal setae and a black thoracic spiracle.

Identification Tips

Distinguished by its strong dorsal setae, black thoracic spiracle, and prominent plumose arista. It can be confused with Lucilia sericata, which requires microscopic analysis of occipital setae for differentiation.

Habitat

Prefers warm climates with soil temperatures above 15 °C and air temperatures between 17 and 40 °C. Typically found in bright, open areas, but larvae thrive in shaded regions of carrion.

Distribution

Circumtropical; found throughout warmer regions including Australia, Africa, and North America, extending north to VA-MO-CA.

Diet

Adults feed on carrion and decaying fruit, while larvae are associated with living tissue of hosts, leading to myiasis in sheep.

Life Cycle

The lifecycle lasts approximately 11–21 days, starting with eggs laid on carrion, followed by the larval stage lasting about five days, pupation, and emergence as adult flies, with 4-8 generations per year depending on temperature.

Reproduction

Females locate hosts such as sheep to lay eggs in suitable environmental conditions (e.g., wounds or fecal matter).

Ecosystem Role

Acts as a decomposer, contributing to the breakdown of carrion, and is important in forensic entomology.

Economic Impact

Causes significant losses in the sheep industry due to flystrike, affecting animal welfare and production costs.

Health Concerns

Causes cutaneous myiasis in livestock, leading to severe discomfort and potential death if untreated. Can be a carrier of bacteria but does not transmit disease.

Collecting Methods

• Baited traps
• Lucitrap
• Lucilure

Similar Taxa

• Lucilia sericata

Tags

• Insect
• Blowfly
• Pest
• Veterinary
• Forensic Entomology