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Family Calliphoridae - Blow Flies

Blow fly - Lucilia - male Blow Fly species ID? - Lucilia sericata - male - female Blue Bottle Fly? - Cynomya cadaverina Blow Fly - Lucilia primary Screwworm - Cochliomyia hominivorax? - Cochliomyia hominivorax - male Fly - Lucilia cuprina Lucilia ? - Lucilia - female Green Striped Fly on Stiff Goldenrod
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon (Calyptratae)
Superfamily Oestroidea
Family Calliphoridae (Blow Flies)
Other Common Names
Bluebottle and Greenbottle Flies
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
para- or polyphyletic(1)
Explanation of Names
Calliphoridae Brauer & Bergenstamm 1889
Numbers
84 spp. in 17 genera of 5 subfamilies in our area(2), >1,500 spp. in ~100 genera worldwide(1)
Identification
keys to NA genera and species in (3)(2)
keys to eastern genera and most species in(4)
key to KY spp. in(5)
Habitat
very common in a wide variety of habitats, including heavily urbanized areas
Food
scavengers (larvae in carrion, excrement, etc.) or parasites(6)
Remarks
Commonly seen "basking" on the exterior walls of buildings (flesh flies also have this habit). Some cause myiasis in humans and livestock.(6)