Calliphoridae
A family of metallic flies, often found on carrion.
Their maggot larvae, called gentles, are often used as fishing bait. The family is known to be polyphyletic, but much remains disputed regarding proper treatment of the constituent taxa, some of which are occasionally accorded family status (e.g., Bengaliidae and Helicoboscidae).
- common_names
- blowflies, blow flies, blow-flies, carrion flies, bluebottles, greenbottles
- larval_name
- gentles
- order
- Diptera
- typical_habitats
- temperate to tropical areas with loose, damp soil and litter
Lore & Background
Calliphoridae adults are commonly shiny with metallic colouring, often with blue, green, or black thoraces and abdomens. Their antennae are three-segmented and aristate, with plumose aristae their entire length. Members have branched Rs 2 veins, frontal sutures, and well-developed calypters. The characteristics and arrangements of hairlike bristles are used to differentiate among members, with all blowflies having bristles on the meron. The thorax has a continuous dorsal suture across the middle and well-defined posterior calli, while the postscutellum is absent or weakly developed. Most species of blowflies studied thus far are anautogenous; a female requires a substantial amount of protein to develop mature eggs. Blowfly eggs are usually yellowish or white, about 1.5 mm × 0.4 mm, and when laid look like rice grains. The sex ratio is usually 50:50, but females from two species of the genus Chrysomya are either arrhenogenic (laying only male offspring) or thelygenic (laying only female offspring). Hatching from egg to first larval stage takes about 8 hours to a day, and larvae have three instars separated by molting.
Reader's Guide
The Calliphoridae are significant for their roles in decomposition, myiasis, and forensic entomology. Larvae of most species are scavengers of carrion and dung, and likely constitute the majority of maggots found in such material. The family has caught the interest of researchers in a variety of fields, with a large body of literature concentrated on solving the problem of myiasis in livestock. The most common causes of myiasis in humans and animals are the three dipteran families Oestridae, Calliphoridae, and Sarcophagidae. The New World primary screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax), once a major pest in the Southern United States, was eradicated from the United States, Mexico, and Central America through an extensive release program of sterilized males. Adult blowflies are occasional pollinators, attracted to flowers with strong odors resembling rotting meat. Their larvae use proteolytic enzymes and mechanical grinding to break down proteins on carrion or livestock. Blowflies also act as both pathogen vectors and engage in facultative bacterivory, with microbiome composition strongly associated with host species identity, suggesting species-level differences in microbial associations may translate into differing risks of pathogen carriage.
Did You Know?
- The maggot larvae of blowflies, known as gentles, are often used as fishing bait.
- The family is polyphyletic, and much remains disputed regarding proper treatment of constituent taxa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Calliphoridae?
Calliphoridae is a family of metallic-colored flies within the order Diptera, popularly called blowflies, bluebottles, greenbottles, or carrion flies. They are a well-known group frequently encountered on decaying animal matter across the globe.
What role do Calliphoridae play in the ecosystem?
They serve as important decomposers, processing carrion and recycling nutrients back into their environment. Their larval stage, affectionately dubbed 'gentles,' is also a popular choice among anglers for fishing bait.
How does Calliphoridae's life cycle end?
Members of this family undergo complete metamorphosis, progressing from egg to larva (the 'gentle'), then pupa, and finally the adult metallic fly. The adult stage is typically encountered in temperate to tropical habitats featuring loose, damp soil and leaf litter.
Why is Calliphoridae's classification so messy?
The family is regarded as polyphyletic, meaning its included lineages do not all trace back to one exclusive common ancestor. Ongoing taxonomic disputes mean some constituent groups, such as Bengaliidae and Helicoboscidae, are sometimes promoted to independent family rank.
Where do you most often spot Calliphoridae?
They thrive in temperate to tropical regions, particularly where loose, damp soil and decaying leaf litter provide suitable breeding ground. Their distinctive metallic blue or green sheen makes them easy to identify when they congregate on carrion.
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