Explanation of Names
Phormia regina (Meigen 1826)
Identification
Adult metallic dark blue or olive-green with an orange front spiracle
Range
North America; Eurasia; Hawaii
(1)Habitat
Attracted to dung and carrion
(2)Season
a cool weather species, most commonly seen in spring and fall; hibernates as adults under bark of rotting logs, etc.
(2)Food
Although the insects may be able to synthesize these, aspartic acid and glutamic acid are required in the diet for sustained growth.
The adult needs only water, carbohydrates, and oxygen for maintenance and to provide energy for locomotion. The larval stage is where all necessary nutrients were received.
(3)
Feeding is initiated by taste receptors on the tarsi, then leads to the extension of the proboscis. The sucking action is determined by the food quality.
(3)Remarks
used in forensics to determine time of death (
Byrd & Allen 2001)
Maggots used to clean wounds
Can cause secondary myiasis in animals; pest of livestock
(2)
very common throughout NA
(4)See Also
Some metallic Muscidae, e.g. Eudasyphora, are superficially similar with a more gradual bend in vein M.
