Common green bottle fly

Description:

The common green bottle fly (biological name Phaenicia sericata or Lucilia sericata) is a blow-fly found in most areas of the world, and the most well-known of the numerous green bottle fly species. It is 10–14 mm long, slightly larger than a housefly, and 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, mainly the southern hemisphere, particularly in Africa and Australia. It prefers warm and moist climates and accordingly is especially common in coastal regions, but it also is present in arid areas.[2] The female lays her eggs in meat, fish, animal corpses, infected wounds of humans or animals, and excrement. The larvae feed on decomposing tissue. The insect favours species of the genus Ovis, domestic sheep in particular. This can lead to Blowfly strike, causing problems for sheep farmers, though Lucilia sericata is not a major cause of blowfly strike in most regions. Morphology[edit]