blow fly
Metallic carrion insect
A blow fly is a fly that lays its eggs on decaying flesh, carrion, or open wounds.
The larvae (maggots) feed on dead tissue, making these flies important in decomposition—and in forensic science, where their life stages help estimate time of death.
The metallic blue or green species are sometimes called bluebottles or greenbottles.
- bluebottleMetallic carrion fly
- greenbottleMetallic-shelled carrion fly
- carrionPutrefying animal remains
- dead bodyDeceased person's remains
- rotten meatDecayed animal tissue
buzzing sound · decay · forensic science · crime scene · egg laying · decomposition · crime scene analysis · time of death · maggot · life cycle · flyblow · gentle · oviposition · proboscis · scavenger · wound · flesh wound · open wound
- pestsants, ant, bugs, cockroach, cockroaches
- blood feedersmosquito, tick, flea, louse, bedbug
- parasitestapeworm, roundworm, pinworm, hookworm, fleas
- Vector Diseasesmalaria, dengue, Zika, dengue fever, West Nile
- dung dwellersdung beetle, scarab beetle, scarab, sacred scarab, tumblebug
- parasitic fliesbotfly, screwworm