Blows+Flies+&+Forensic+Entomology

=Calliphoridae (The Blow Flies)=

** Taxonomy/Classification: **
//Kingdom:// Animalia //Phylum:// Arthropoda //Class:// Insecta O//rder:// Diptera //Superfamily:// Oestroidea //Family:// Calliphoridae

====Calliphoridae (other common names consist of: Bluebottle and Greenbottle Flies) are a particularly unique family of insects within the order of Diptera (~1,100 known species). The name "blow fly" comes from an old English term that meant: "meat that had eggs laid in it", which used to be called "fly blown". Calliphoridae are also polyphyletic (meaning they are characterized by one or more traits). (1 )====


 * Characteristics: **

====These flies are generally medium to medium-large sized and are often coated with metallic green or blue exterior wear. The adults tend to feed from the flowers with exposed nectaries (for easy access) while their eggs are laid on rotting carcasses. Following, the larvae hatch from within the eggs and begin to decompose the carcass. This particular species allows forensic analysts to further their evidence during murder cases. (2) ====

====Commonly seen in a wide variety of habitats throughout the world, including highly urbanized areas. They tend to bask on the exterior walls of buildings until they need to do their job. ====

====Blow flies have a highly evolved sense of smell which they use to sniff out their carcasses from miles away. Sometimes distances from 20-60 miles are recorded. Upon arrival of the carcass, the adult blow fly will proceed to lay it's eggs within the carcass and it's natural orifices (such as the eyes, ears, mouth and nose). These eggs will be succeeded by the larvae that come from them. The larvae will molt twice and grow immensely in size before they're finished digesting the carcass. Following this, the cycle of life (or death) continues. ====

====Blow flies are the most important insect species to forensic entomologists. This is because of the way they work, and their purpose in life. Their larvae exist primarily for the decomposition of carcasses. Knowing this, we can transcend into the next idea of knowledge. Looking at the quantity of larvae, the size as well as age of the oldest adult, forensic entomologists can calculate an estimated time of death for someone that may have been murdered. The blow flies are known as "the quiet witnesses" for this reason; although they cannot speak, their lives speak the truth. (3) ====

====(1)"Family Calliphoridae - Blow Flies." Welcome to BugGuide.Net! - BugGuide.Net. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <[]> ====