#order diptera

When you think of animals, think of this fly, Calliphora stygia. The brown blowfly is found in Australia and New Zealand where it is one of the first colonizers of corpses. Within hours of death, these flies will lay eggs into any orifices, and the larvae tend to congregate in the abdomen and chest cavities. Because of this predictability, this fly is very important forensically. Morphine and Methamphetamine in the corpse will cause changes in the fly’s development as well.

When you think of animals, think of this fly, Calliphora vicina. This blue bottle fly is found in the United States and Europe. It is important in forensic entomology since it has a very consistent arrival time at dead bodies. Time to mature however, is related to temperature as well. They have a lower temperature threshold than most other blow-flies, so in colder months they may be the only fly present.

When you think of animals, think of this fly, Gauromydas heros. The Mydas fly is the largest species of fly in the world. They grow from 1.3-2.7 inches long, a huge range in size. They are harmless, but mimic the appearance and behavior of large pepsid wasps such as tarantula hawks. The flies lay their eggs in leafcutter ant nests, and the grubs feed on beetle larva that they find in the ant-waste chambers. Adults are nectar feeders.

When you think of animals, think of this fly, Hybomitra micans. The black-legged horsefly is native to Europe. Like most horseflies, the adults feed on nectar, and only the females bite in search of extra nutrition to produce eggs. They can spread blood-borne diseases and parasites much like mosquitos.