Green bottle fly.

Blue bottle fly

Green bottle fly.

 

The name "blow fly" comes from an older English term for meat that had eggs laid on it, which was said to be fly blown. The first association of the term “blow” with flies was used by some of Shakespeare's plays.

Blow Fly Identification

Probably the easiest of flies to identify since they have a metallic green, blue or yellow-brown body. These flies range in size from 7 - 13mm in length. The characteristics and arrangement of hairs are used to tell the difference between members of this family.

Blow Fly Life Cycle

Adults live between 9 - 21 days. Each species of blow fly is different, but blow flies can lay about 500 to 2200 eggs in their lifetime. Eggs are laid in batches of 100 to 200 in rotting meat and fish. Eggs are approximately 1.5 x 0.4 mm and look like tiny rice when laid. Besides the typical egg laying locations, garbage, manure, and rotting vegetable matter are also used.

Blow Fly Habitat

Blow flies are not usually a significant structural pest, but can be annoying due to their buzzing noise.

Adult blow flies are occasional pollinators, being attracted to flowers with a strong odor resembling rotting meat, such as the American pawpaw or Dead Horse Arum. There is little doubt that these flies utilize nectar as a source of carbohydrates to fuel flight, but just how and when this happens is unknown.

Larvae of most blow fly species are scavengers of carrion and dung and most likely constitute the majority of the maggots found in such material, although it is not uncommon for them to be found in close associate with other dipterous larvae from other families.

Blow Fly Prevention

Proper sanitation and removal / control of resting and breeding locations are the most important in the prevention of blow flies. It is important to empty and clean garbage containers on a weekly basis.

If you require professional blow fly extermination or control, please send us your information and we will be happy to help!