Maggot-therapy
Guides
Calliphoridae
blow flies, blow-flies, carrion flies, bluebottles, greenbottles, cluster flies
Calliphoridae is a large family of Diptera containing approximately 1,900 described species with worldwide distribution. Adults are typically recognized by their metallic blue, green, or black coloration. The family exhibits diverse life histories including saprophagy, facultative parasitism, and obligatory myiasis. Larvae of most species develop in carrion and dung, making them ecologically important decomposers and forensically significant indicators of post-mortem intervals. Several species have substantial economic and medical importance: Lucilia cuprina causes flystrike in Australian sheep, Cochliomyia hominivorax was a major screwworm pest before eradication in North America, and Lucilia sericata is used in maggot debridement therapy for wound treatment.
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 cuprina
Australian sheep blowfly, bronze bottle fly
Lucilia cuprina, commonly known as the Australian sheep blowfly, is a member of the blow fly family Calliphoridae. It is a significant agricultural pest in sheep-rearing regions, causing the condition known as fly strike or myiasis. The species has been introduced to multiple continents through human commerce and is also utilized in forensic entomology for estimating postmortem intervals. Adults are characterized by their metallic green or greenish-blue abdomen with bronze or coppery reflections.
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.
Phormia
black blow fly
Phormia is a genus of blow flies in the family Calliphoridae. The genus contains a single species, Phormia regina, commonly known as the black blow fly. This species is native to North America and is among the most important insects in forensic entomology due to its predictable colonization of carrion and well-documented developmental rates. Adults are metallic blue or green in coloration and are distinguished by several morphological features including black gena, mostly white calypters, and orange-yellow anterior thoracic spiracles surrounded by bright orange setae.
Protophormia terraenovae
northern blowfly, blue-bottle fly, blue-assed fly, blackbottle
Protophormia terraenovae is a large, metallic blue-green blowfly with a Holarctic distribution. It is the most cold-tolerant calliphorid species, occurring from the Arctic to temperate regions. The species is economically significant as a cause of myiasis in livestock and valuable in maggot debridement therapy due to its selective consumption of necrotic tissue and antibiotic secretions. Its temperature-dependent development makes it a key forensic indicator for post-mortem interval estimation.