Family Calliphoridae - Blow Flies

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Habitat · Food · Remarks · See Also · Works Cited

Fly With Metallic Blue - Calliphora vicina

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon (Calyptratae)

Superfamily Oestroidea

Family Calliphoridae (Blow Flies)

Other Common Names

Bluebottle and Greenbottle Flies

Explanation of Names

Greek callos 'beautiful' + phor 'bearing'

Numbers

84 spp. in 17 genera of 5 subfamilies in our area(1), >1,500 spp. in 108 genera worldwide(2)

Identification

keys to NA genera and species in(1)

keys to eastern genera and most species in(3)

key to KY spp.

similar to flesh flies (Sarcophagidae); about the size of a house fly or a little larger; most have metallic color(4)

Habitat

very common in a wide variety of habitats, including heavily urbanized areas

Food

scavengers (larvae in carrion, excrement, etc.) or parasites(4)

Remarks

These are the flies you commonly see "basking" on the exterior walls of buildings (though flesh flies also have this habit). Some cause myasis in humans and livestock.(4)

See Also

Sarcophagidae

Works Cited

1.	Keys to the genera and species of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of America north of Mexico By T.L. Whitworth

2.	USDA Diptera Site (now closed)

3.	Blow flies (Diptera;Calliphoridae) of eastern Canada with a key to Calliphoridae subfamilies and genera of eastern North America By S.A. Marshall, T. Whitworth, L. Roscoe

4.	Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects By Norman F. Johnson, Charles A. Triplehorn

Contributed by john and jane balaban on 19 September, 2004 - 2:03pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Bug Eric, Beatriz Moisset, kschnei, v belov
Last updated 9 November, 2011 - 10:17am

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