Calliphoridae
Guides
Bellardia bayeri
Bayer's Emerald-bottle
Bellardia bayeri is a species of blow fly in the family Calliphoridae, first described by Jacentkovský in 1937 under the basionym Onesia bayeri. It is commonly known as Bayer's Emerald-bottle. The species has been recorded in Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, Denmark) and the United States. As a member of the Calliphoridae, it belongs to a family of flies known for their metallic coloration and ecological roles in decomposition.
Bellardia vulgaris
Pale-veined Emerald-bottle
Bellardia vulgaris is a species of blow fly in the family Calliphoridae, commonly known as the Pale-veined Emerald-bottle. It is a metallic green fly distributed across parts of Europe including Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. As a member of the Calliphoridae, it is likely associated with decomposing organic matter, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in the provided sources.
Calliphora coloradensis
Calliphora coloradensis is a species of blow fly in the family Calliphoridae, first described by Hough in 1899. The genus Calliphora includes species commonly known as blue bottle flies, though the specific common name for this species is not documented. As a member of the blow fly family, it likely shares the general ecological traits of active decomposition and forensic importance characteristic of the group, though species-specific details remain sparse.
Calliphora terraenovae
New World blue bottle fly
Calliphora terraenovae is a species of blow fly in the family Calliphoridae, commonly known as the New World blue bottle fly. It is native to North America and serves as an important decomposer in forensic entomology investigations. The species is closely related to other blue bottle flies in the genus Calliphora, including the widespread Palearctic species C. vicina, with which it shares ecological and morphological similarities.
Calliphora vomitoria
blue bottle fly, orange-bearded blue bottle, bottlebee
Calliphora vomitoria is a blow fly and the type species of the genus Calliphora. Adults are among the first colonizers of carrion, making them significant forensic indicators for estimating time of death. The species exhibits a distinctive metallic blue abdomen and orange setae on the gena. It has been extensively studied for its landing mechanics, with research on its inverted ceiling landings informing robotic drone design.
Chloroprocta
Chloroprocta is a genus of blow flies in the family Calliphoridae, subfamily Chrysomyinae. The genus was described by Wulp in 1896. Species in this genus are associated with carrion and decomposing organic matter. The genus contains relatively few described species and is primarily distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics.
Chrysops cincticornis
Ring-clawed Deer Fly
Chrysops cincticornis is a deer fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Walker in 1848. It is commonly known as the Ring-clawed Deer Fly. The species has been documented in Vermont and other parts of the United States, with 291 observations recorded on iNaturalist. Research on this species has focused on its oviposition behavior and fecundity, with laboratory studies showing females deposit eggs in gelatinous masses on mud substrates near water, averaging 156 eggs per female.
deer-flyTabanidaeDipteramedical-entomologyovipositionfecundityring-clawed-deer-flyVermontUnited-Statesmud-substrategelatinous-egg-massChrysopsinaeChrysopsiniWalker-1848iNaturalistlaboratory-rearingegg-mass156-eggsrange-42-312near-watermud-like-substrateegg-depositionreproductionbehavioral-studymedical-entomology-researchinsect-vectorsbiting-fliestabanid-flieshorse-fliesdeer-fliesChrysopsNorth-AmericaNew-Englandobservation-recordssynonym-status-in-Catalogue-of-Lifeaccepted-status-in-GBIFarthropodinsectflyBrachyceraTabanomorphaHexapodaPterygotaAnimaliaArthropodaInsectacincticornisChrysops-cincticornis-Walker-1848Chrysops-(Chrysops)-cincticornisdeerflyhorseflytabanidbiting-flyvectoroviposition-behaviorfecundity-studyJournal-of-Medical-Entomology198210.1093/jmedent/19.5.597gelatinous-secretionmudwaterlaboratory-conditionsmean-fecundityegg-productionreproductive-biologyentomologyinsect-behaviorinsect-reproductiondipterantrue-flytwo-winged-flynematoceranCyclorrhaphaAschizaSchizophoraAcalyptrataeCalyptrataeOestroideaMuscoideaHippoboscoideaGlossinidaeCalliphoridaeSarcophagidaeMuscidaeFanniidaeAnthomyiidaeScathophagidaeOestridaeTachinidaeSiphonapteraPhthirapteraHemipteraColeopteraLepidopteraHymenopteraNeuropteraMegalopteraRaphidiopteraTrichopteraStrepsipteraMecopteraDipluraProturaCollembolaZygentomaArchaeognathaEphemeropteraOdonataPlecopteraGrylloblattodeaMantophasmatodeaPhasmatodeaOrthopteraDermapteraEmbiopteraZorapteraIsopteraBlattodeaMantodeaPhyllodocidaNotopteraWalker1848speciestaxongelatinoushabitatdistributionGBIFCatalogue-of-LifeNCBIlaboratory-studybehaviorlife-cyclesubstratemud-likemeanrange42-312femaleobservationrecordspecimencollectionmuseumresearchstudyarticleabstractDOIbiologyecologyhorse-flyacceptedsynonymtaxonomyclassificationUS291-observationslaboratory291-iNaturalist-observationsGBIF-distribution-recordsaccepted-species-statussynonym-in-Catalogue-of-Life156-eggs-mean-fecundityrange-42-312-eggs1982-Journal-of-Medical-Entomology-publicationDOI-10.1093/jmedent/19.5.597entomology-researchdipteran-biologyCochliomyia macellaria
secondary screwworm, secondary screwworm fly
Cochliomyia macellaria, the secondary screwworm, is a blow fly in the family Calliphoridae distributed throughout the Americas from southern Canada to Patagonia. The species is a specialist carrion colonizer whose larvae feed on necrotic tissue, distinguishing it from the primary screwworm (C. hominivorax) which attacks living tissue. Adults exhibit metallic blue-green coloration with orange-red eyes and head. The species holds significant forensic importance for postmortem interval estimation and has medical-veterinary relevance as a cause of secondary myiasis in livestock and humans.
Compsomyiops
Compsomyiops is a genus of blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) established by Townsend in 1918. Members are necrophagous and serve as important forensic indicators for postmortem interval estimation. The genus has been documented as a phoretic host for Myianoetus mites (Acari: Histiostomatidae), representing a novel dispersal association for these mites. At least two species are recognized: C. fulvicrura in South America and C. wheeleri in North America.
Cyanus
Cyanus is a genus of blow flies in the family Calliphoridae, established by Hall in 1948. The genus contains at least one recognized species, C. elongatus (Hough, 1898). As a member of the Calliphoridae, it belongs to the diverse group of calyptrate flies commonly known as blow flies or bluebottles.
Cynomya
dog-fly
Cynomya is a genus of blow flies (family Calliphoridae) commonly known as 'dog-flies' from the Ancient Greek κυνόμυια. Species in this genus are large, conspicuous flies of forensic interest, primarily distributed across the Palaearctic Region with some overlap in Alaska and the Russian Far East. The genus includes species such as C. mortuorum and C. cadaverina, which are associated with carrion and occasionally recorded as agents of myiasis. Unlike many calliphorids, Cynomya species are not strongly synanthropic and are rarely abundant in nature.
Lucilia
greenbottle flies, green bottle flies
Lucilia is a genus of blow flies in the family Calliphoridae, commonly known as greenbottle flies for their metallic green coloration. Species in this genus are among the most frequently encountered carrion-associated flies worldwide and hold significant importance in forensic entomology, medical maggot therapy, and veterinary contexts. The genus includes species with cosmopolitan distributions due to human commerce, notably Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina. Larvae are obligate scavengers of decomposing organic matter, with some species capable of causing myiasis in living hosts.
Lucilia cluvia
Lucilia cluvia is a species of blow fly in the family Calliphoridae. It belongs to the genus Lucilia, commonly known as green bottle flies. Very little specific information has been documented about this particular species compared to better-studied congeners such as Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina.
Lucilia coeruleiviridis
Blue-green Bottle Fly, Green Bottle Fly
Lucilia coeruleiviridis is one of the most common and ubiquitous blow fly species 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 genus Phaenecia.
Lucilia eximia
green bottle fly
Lucilia eximia is a green bottle fly in the family Calliphoridae, distributed throughout the Neotropics from northern Mexico to southern South America. The species is a significant forensic indicator used to estimate minimum postmortem intervals, with well-documented intra-puparial development stages and thermal accumulation requirements. Laboratory studies indicate adults require both sugar and protein sources for optimal longevity, with water deprivation severely reducing survival. The species colonizes animal remains in urban environments exposed to sunlight.
Lucilia mexicana
green bottle fly
Lucilia mexicana is a green bottle blow fly in the family Calliphoridae, first described by Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart in 1843 or 1844. Adults measure 6–9 mm and exhibit metallic blue-green thoraxes with purple tints. The species is distributed from the southwestern United States through Mexico and Central America to Brazil, inhabiting wooded and urban environments. It holds potential forensic significance for determining postmortem intervals and stored-product contamination cases, though more research is needed for reliable application in criminal investigations.
Lucilia sericata
common green bottle fly, green bottle fly, blow fly
Lucilia sericata is a blow fly in family Calliphoridae, widely distributed across most temperate regions worldwide. Adults display brilliant metallic blue-green or golden coloration and are frequently among the first insects to arrive at carrion. The species has significant forensic importance due to predictable developmental rates used to estimate postmortem intervals. Larvae are also employed in maggot debridement therapy for cleaning necrotic wounds. The species exhibits temperature-driven seasonal activity, preferring warmer summer months.
Lucilia silvarum
common toad fly, Marsh Greenbottle Fly
Lucilia silvarum is a blow fly in the family Calliphoridae, first described by Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1826. Adults are 4.5–10 mm with metallic green coloration and plumose aristae, making them difficult to distinguish from related green bottle flies. The species has a Holarctic distribution across North America and Europe. Recent research has clarified its ecological role: it is primarily saprophagous on carrion and was identified as a primary colonizer of domestic cats in experimental studies, contradicting earlier assumptions that it was strictly associated with amphibian myiasis.
Melanomyinae
Melanomyinae is a subfamily of blow flies (Calliphoridae) characterized by dull, non-metallic coloration. The group contains approximately 10 recognized genera including Melanomya, Melinda, and Adichosina. Biological and ecological details remain poorly documented across the subfamily.
Opsodexia
Opsodexia is a genus of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) described by Townsend in 1915. It is currently treated as a synonym of Melanomya (subgenus Opsodexia) within the subfamily Melanomyinae. The genus contains species associated with carrion and decomposition ecology. Very few observations exist in public databases, indicating either rarity or taxonomic obscurity.
Phormia regina
Black Blow Fly, Black Blowfly
Phormia regina, commonly known as the black blow fly, is a forensically important necrophagous species in the family Calliphoridae. It is widely distributed across the Holarctic region and is considered one of the most important forensic indicator species in the United States for estimating postmortem intervals. The species exhibits temperature-dependent development with a biological minimum between 10.0–12.5°C. Adults are attracted to decomposing tissue and carrion for oviposition. P. regina is primarily active during cooler seasons, earning it the designation of a "cold weather fly" that moves northward as temperatures increase.
Protocalliphora bennetti
Protocalliphora bennetti is a species of blow fly in the family Calliphoridae, described by Whitworth in 2002. The genus Protocalliphora comprises nest parasites of birds, with larvae developing in the blood of nestling birds. This species is one of approximately 20 recognized species in the genus, which are distributed primarily in the Holarctic region. Like congeners, P. bennetti likely exhibits the characteristic life history of bird nest parasitism that defines the genus.
Protophormia
Northern blow flies
Protophormia is a genus of blow flies (Calliphoridae) containing two recognized species: P. atriceps and P. terraenovae. These flies are distributed across Eurasia and Northern America. The genus has been extensively studied in laboratory settings for circadian rhythms, photoperiodism, and reproductive physiology, particularly in P. terraenovae.
Trypocalliphora
Trypocalliphora is a genus of blow flies in the family Calliphoridae, subfamily Chrysomyinae. It was described by Peus in 1960. The genus contains at least one recognized species, Trypocalliphora braueri. Records indicate a distribution in northern Europe (including Norway and Sweden) and potentially Northern America, though documentation remains sparse.