Common green bottle fly

Description:

The common green bottle fly is a blow fly found in most areas of the world, and the most well-known of the numerous green bottle fly species. It has brilliant, metallic, blue-green or golden coloration with black markings. It has short, sparse black bristles (setae) and three cross-grooves on the thorax. The wings are clear with light brown veins, and the legs and antennae are black. The maggots (larvae) of the fly are used for maggot therapy.

Habitat:

Lucilia sericata is common all over the temperate and tropical regions of the planet. The female lays her eggs in meat, fish, animal corpses, infected wounds of humans or animals, and excrement. The larvae feed on decomposing tissue.

Notes:

L. sericata has been of medical importance. Larval secretions have been shown to help in tissue regeneration.L. sericata larvae can be used as biosurgery agents in cases where antibiotics and surgery are impractical.