# Blow Flies (*Calliphoridae*) Blow flies are shiny, buzzing insects that help clean up nature by eating dead animals. They are often seen around garbage and can be found in many places! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Greenbottle Fly ![Blow Flies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Chrysomya_megacephala_male.jpg&width=800) Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim, GFDL 1.2 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chrysomya_megacephala_male.jpg) ## Appearance The Blow Fly has a robust body, often with a striking metallic sheen in shades of blue, green, or copper. Their large, reddish-brown compound eyes and bristly thorax make them easily distinguishable from other flies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Calliphoridae ## Interesting facts - Blow flies can help scientists figure out how long a crime victim has been deceased! - Blow flies help pollinate some plants, especially those with stinky flowers, like the corpse flower! - Some tiny blow fly larvae are used by doctors to clean wounds, eating only dead tissue! - Their amazing sense of smell is so good, it can detect a tiny bit of carrion from afar! ## Special abilities - **Super Sniffer:** Blow Flies can locate decaying matter from surprising distances quickly, helping them find food and egg-laying sites efficiently. - **Rapid Transformation:** Blow Flies have incredibly fast larval development, allowing maggots to grow and pupate in just a few days. - **Acrobatic Flight:** Blow Flies can perform agile maneuvers in flight, darting, hovering, and changing direction swiftly to avoid predators. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 12-30 mm - **Size:** 6-16 mm - **Lifespan:** 15-45 days - **Flight Speed:** 24 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip nectar and decaying liquids, while larvae feast on rotting organic matter and carrion. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat decaying organic matter; adults feed on liquids like nectar or decaying fluids. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Rotting fruit, Carrion, Feces, Exudates from wounds, Tree sap - **Foraging Method:** Scavenging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Robins eat adult flies for protein. - **Parasitizes:** Domestic Sheep (*Ovis aries*) — Some blow fly larvae cause 'sheep strike' by feeding on living tissue. - **Pollinates:** Corpse Flower (*Rafflesia arnoldii*) — Flies are attracted to its smell and carry pollen. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't touch or bother flies, as they can carry germs. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Blow Flies? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Blow Flies's wingspan? 12-30 mm ### How big is Blow Flies? 6-16 mm ### How long does Blow Flies live? 15-45 days ### How fast can Blow Flies fly? 24 km/h ### What does Blow Flies eat? Adults sip nectar and decaying liquids, while larvae feast on rotting organic matter and carrion. ### Where is Blow Flies usually found? Urban areas ### How does Blow Flies hunt? Scavenging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Blow Flies: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blow-flies)