Other Common Names
"Blue bottle" and "green bottle," or, "bluebottle" and "greenbottle."
Explanation of Names
From Greek calli- beautiful, plus phor bearing.
Numbers
Nearctica.com lists 90 spp. in 17 genera
Identification
Very similar to flesh flies (Sarcophagidae), some authorities place both in one family. About the size of a house fly or a little larger; some have metallic color.
Habitat
These are very common flies in a wide variety of habitats, including heavily urbanized areas.
Food
Most are scavengers. The larvae live in carrion, excrement and similar materials.
Remarks
These are the flies you commonly see "basking" on the exterior walls of buildings (though flesh flies also have this habit).
