Blue bottle fly
Calliphora vomitoria
Conservation status: Common
When to see: January to December
About
The blue bottle fly, also known as Calliphora vomitoria, is a surprisingly beneficial insect despite its sometimes unpleasant reputation. These flies are found throughout much of the world and are easily identifiable by their metallic blue bodies and buzzing wings. While they are often associated with rotting food and waste, they serve an important ecological role in the decomposition process. Female blue bottle flies lay their eggs on decaying matter, which hatches into maggots that consume the organic material and promote nutrient cycling in ecosystems. Additionally, some species of these flies have been used for medical purposes due to their ability to clean wounds by consuming necrotic tissue while leaving healthy tissue alone.
| See also different: | Garden flies |
