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| | | Blue bottle fly | | The blue bottle fly (Calliphora vomitoria), also called blue bottle or bottlebee, is in the family blow flies (Calliphoridae), the subfamily Calliphorinae and of the genus Calliphora. This species is commonly encountered almost everywhere in the world. | | |
| | | | Blue bottles reach body lengths of 10-14 mm. Their bodies have a grey-black metallic sheen. The abdomen is shiny metallic blue and has markings in black. The body and legs are black and covered with brush-like black hair. The antennae are also black and the compound eyes are red in colour. The wings are crystal clear. | | |
| | | | Blue bottles are encountered throughout the year, but most commonly from April to October. These flies prefer to feed on cadavers and compost heaps. Here the females lay (up to 1000) longish, white eggs in groups. The larvae feed on the substrates until they pupate. The pupae and the adult flies overwinter. The bluebottle’s sense of smell is highly developed. | | |
| | | | Bluebottles are regarded as problematic as they carry diseases. Furthermore they make food unfit for human consumption. However blue bottles assist in the pollination of the plants, whose nectar they feed on. Moreover, their larvae (maggots) have been reintroduced in the field of medicine, - in the treatment of wounds. The bluebottle’s role as a decomposer of carrion is also beneficial. | | |
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| | | Description of images / photos | | 1. | Bluebottle - Calliphora vomitoria | | 2. | Blow-fly - Calliphora vomitoria | | 3. | Remains of a death Calliphora vomitoria | | 4. | Blue bottle fly - Front view | | 5. | Head of a Blue bottle fly |
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