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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Calyptratae » Oestroidea » Blow Flies (Calliphoridae) » screwworm flies (Cochliomyia) » Secondary screwworm (Cochliomyia macellaria)
Photo#36722
fly--ID please - Cochliomyia macellaria
Copyright © 2005 Arlene Ripley

fly--ID please - Cochliomyia macellaria
Jefferson Patterson Park, Calvert County, Maryland, USA
October 30, 2005
Size: approx, 6mm
Found on goldenrod. Has a metallic sheen in the right light.
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Contributed by Arlene Ripley on 7 November, 2005 - 10:56am
Last updated 8 November, 2005 - 2:47pm

Secondary screwworm.
Pretty sure this is an adult of the "secondary screwworm," Cochliomyia macellaria, family Calliphoridae. They are pretty distinctive, and definitely on the wing at this time of year. Great image!
… Eric R. Eaton, 7 November, 2005 - 12:04pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks, Eric
That's not a very complimentary common name but as I researched this fly, I found they eat carrion and spread various diseases. It seems almost inappropriate to find them on flowers.
… Arlene Ripley, 7 November, 2005 - 10:23pm login or register to post comments

 
Flowers and screwworm
Great photo Arlene! Other important detail of this shot is the yellow facialia that complement the three black stripes on thorax, characterizing this fly as C. macellaria. In Brazil is not uncommon see blowflies, C. hominivorax, and C. macellaria on flowers. Indeed Chrysomya megacephala (blowfly) is an important pollinator of Mango trees!
… Carlos Silva, 27 December, 2006 - 11:14am login or register to post comments

 
Interesting information........
thanks, Carlos!
… Arlene Ripley, 19 January, 2007 - 5:12pm login or register to post comments

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