Scientific name: Calliphora vicina Family: Calliphoridae Order: Diptera Risk level: High Category: Flying pest
? What is the bluebottle fly
Scientific name: Calliphora vicina
Family: Calliphoridae
Order: Diptera
Risk level: High
Category: Flying pest
The bluebottle fly (Calliphora vicina) is a blowfly, distinguished by its shiny metallic blue color and size of 10–14 mm. Its loud buzzing is very distinctive. It is used in forensic medicine to estimate time of death accurately because its life cycle on a corpse is predictable.
Life cycle of the bluebottle fly
It undergoes complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (three instars), pupa and adult. Under suitable warm conditions, a generation takes 10–21 days. The female lays hundreds of eggs on suitable organic material.
Distribution of the bluebottle fly
It occurs in tropical and subtropical regions. In Saudi Arabia, the Gulf and Egypt, it is common in facilities associated with food, waste or decomposing organic material.
Damage and risks associated with the bluebottle fly
It is a mechanical carrier of intestinal diseases, lays eggs in open wounds (myiasis), and damages meat in slaughterhouses and meat-processing plants.
Signs of a bluebottle fly infestation
Signs include flies in food or production areas, increasing counts in ILT traps, and larvae at breeding sites.
Where bluebottle flies are found
They occur around exposed meat, open wounds, slaughterhouses and landfills, and breed in any decomposing protein material.
Bluebottle fly control methods
Use ILTs with regular monitoring, outdoor ULV fogging, residual spraying on resting surfaces, treatment of breeding sources and air curtains at building entrances.
Bluebottle fly control products
Pyrethroids (deltamethrin and cypermethrin), spinosad in sensitive areas, and diflubenzuron at breeding sites.
Requirements for controlling bluebottle flies in food facilities
FSSC 22000 Version 7/BRCGS: flies are a high-priority pest in food facilities. Their presence in production areas is a Major Non-Conformance. An ILT system with monthly documentation is required.
A fact about the bluebottle fly
The bluebottle fly was among the first insects used in forensic medicine. Forensic entomologists can estimate time of death to within hours by analyzing the larval stage found on a corpse.
Frequently asked questions about the bluebottle fly
Q: How can I distinguish the bluebottle fly from the housefly?
A: The bluebottle fly (Calliphora vicina) is distinguished by its metallic blue color. Careful visual examination of size, color and behavior can help tell the two apart.
Q: Are ILTs enough to control flies?
A: ILTs alone are for monitoring and do not provide complete control. They must be combined with treatment of breeding sources and environmental management