The common green bottle fly (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 house fly, 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.
Lucilia sericata is common all over the temperate and tropical regions of the planet, mainly the southern hemisphere, 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. The female lays her eggs in meat, fish, animal corpses, infected wounds of humans or animals, and excrement. The larvae feed on decomposing tissue, but not living tissue. Thus the maggots (larvae) of the fly are used for maggot therapy, placed in gangrenous wounds to clean the wound up.
The insect favours species of the genus Ovis, domestic sheep in particular. This can lead to Blow fly strike, causing problems for sheep farmers, though Lucilia sericata is not a major cause of blow fly strike in most regions.
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Great photo! Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteFantastic!
ReplyDeleteLovely photo of an insect we try to avoid being around.
ReplyDeleteWow!You caught the colors brilliantly.
ReplyDeleteGreat zoom capture . Please tell something about my capture on my blog.
ReplyDeleteAhhhhh little creature, so important to all lifevorms… and hated by so many people at the same time
ReplyDeleteHave a splendid, ♥-warming ABC-Wednes-day / -week
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There was an old lady who swallowed a fly
ReplyDeleteInteresting information about this insect ....Michelle
ReplyDelete