Habitat
Adults: terrestrial
Immatures: terrestrial

Feeding Habits
Adults: nectar and pollen feeding
Immatures: saprophagous

North American
Species: 70

Diptera Calliphoridae
Blow flies

Special Characteristics: Calliphoridae are robust medium to large sized flies, often with metallic blue or green on the abdomen and thorax. One common species, the cluster fly, has a dull, non-metallic body with silky yellow hairs on the thorax. They have a well developed calypter at the base of each wing.

Comments: The larvae live and feed on carrion or dung. Some of the species are beneficial by breaking down these substances and recycling the nutrients and a few species that feed on dead and infected tissues have been used in the treatment of osteomyelitis in humans. Others act as vectors of diseases and some species such as the screwworm fly feed on living tissue and when the eggs are laid in wounds or nostrils they may cause serious damage to its host.

Species:
Phaenicia sericata (Meigen)

Common Name:
Green bottle fly

Feeding Habits: The larvae feed on decomposing animal matter.

Distribution:
Southern Canada

Comments:
Because larvae of this species feed only on dead and decaying tissues and not on healthy tissues, they have been used successfully to treat osteomyelitis and other medical conditions in humans. This is known as maggot therapy.