BRITISH BLOWFLIES (CALLIPHORIDAE) AND WOODLOUSE FLIES (RHINOPHORIDAE)

Draft key to British Calliphoridae and Rhinophoridae Steven Falk 2016 

BRITISH BLOWFLIES (CALLIPHORIDAE) AND 

WOODLOUSE FLIES (RHINOPHORIDAE) 

DRAFT KEY March 2016 

Steven Falk 

Feedback to steven@sfalk.wanadoo.co.uk 

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PREFACE 

This informal publication attempts to update the resources currently available for 

identifying the families Calliphoridae and Rhinophoridae. Prior to this, British 

dipterists have struggled because unless you have a copy of the Fauna Ent. Scand. 

volume for blowflies (Rognes, 1991), you will have been largely reliant on Van 

Emden's 1954 RES Handbook, which does not include all the British species (notably 

the common Pollenia pediculata), has very outdated nomenclature, and very outdated 

classification - with several calliphorids and tachinids placed within the 

Rhinophoridae and Eurychaeta palpalis placed in the Sarcophagidae. 

As well as updating keys, I have also taken the opportunity to produce new species 

accounts which summarise what I know of each species and act as an invitation and 

challenge to others to update, correct or clarify what I have written. As a result of my 

recent experience of producing an attractive and fairly user-friendly new guide to 

British bees, I have tried to replicate that approach here, incorporating lots of photos 

and clear, conveniently positioned diagrams. Presentation of identification literature 

can have a big impact on the popularity of an insect group and the accuracy of the 

records that result. Calliphorids and rhinophorids are fascinating flies, sometimes of 

considerable economic and medicinal value and deserve to be well recorded. What is 

more, many gaps still remain in our knowledge. We still do not know the biology of 

the common Melanomya nana, and biological information for our common Pollenia 

species is a mess due to unreliable past identification (with much information being 

uncritically assigned to 'P. rudis'). Other species may be increasing or declining, and 

we (the entomological and conservation communities) need to keep an eye on this, 

particularly in the light of climate change and the impact that this could have on some 

of our boreal species in particular e.g. Calliphora uralensis and Bellardia pubicornis. 

In addition to this publication, there is a wealth of useful information on Calliphoridae 

and Rhinophoridae available freely on the web and this has been listed in the 

References & further reading sections further on. This includes my own Flickr site, 

which furnishes many more photos of living calliphorids and rhinophorids plus 

carefully taken microscope shots designed to show key features. In essence it provides 

a virtual field experience plus a virtual museum collection covering almost every 

British species. 

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INTRODUCTION 

Classification 

The classification within individual families is discussed under those families, but at 

the highest level, calliphorids and rhinophorids sit within the the following hierarchy: 

Order: Diptera 

Suborder: Brachycera 

Infraorder: Muscomorpha 

Subsection: Calyptratae 

Superfamily: Oestroidea 

The most closely related familes (i.e. the other families of the superfamily Oestroidea) 

are: 

Mystacinobiidae - represented by a single species, the New Zealand Bat Fly 

Mystacinobia zelandica, a wingless species associated with bats which is 

endemic to New Zealand. 

Oestridae - bot flies, warble flies and their relatives - winged and strongflying 

species with vestigial mouthparts, their larvae developing as internal 

parasites of mammals. More closely related to some calliphorids than the 

family status would imply and with some life cycles that resemble those of 

calliphorid 'screwworms'. 

Sarcophagidae - a large and diverse family that includes fleshflies (with 

larvae that develop variously in carrion, excrement, living invertebrate hosts 

etc.) plus the satellite flies that are cleptoparasites and parasitoids of bees and 

wasps. 

Tachinidae - a huge and diverse family of parasitic flies, some closely 

resembling calliphorids. The larvae developing internally within other insect 

larvae e.g. caterpillars, or even adult bugs and beetles, depending on the 

species. 

However, it should be noted that this is a disputed classification because the 

Calliphoridae does not appear to be monophyletic, and its evolutionary relationship is 

entwined with some of the above families, notably Oestridae (Rognes, 1997). 

Collecting and recording 

Collecting calliphorids and rhinophorids 

There are essentially three approaches to recording flies such as calliphorids and 

rhinophords: 

Active collecting/recording - which can involve netting or visual 

identification in the field, the latter being possible for many species once 

experience has been gained. 

Passive collecting/trapping - using devices such as water traps (pan traps), 

malaise traps and bait traps to attract and automatically catch adults. 

Rearing - by taking items potentially containinng larval stages e.g. hosts such 

as snails, earthworms and woodlice, or carrion, and seeing what species 

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emerge. This technique can also be extended to get species to oviposit on bait 

traps or deliberately supplied hosts. 

All three can be highly active and have attributes. Active collecting can be 'freeform', 

allowing you to interrogate all parts of a site and observe adult behaviour and 

distribution within a site. Trapping can provide hard numerical data and is a more 

standardised and replicable approach that can also save time. Rearing can elucidate 

larval requirements and relationships with host taxa. 

The best type of net to use is a long-handled insect net with a 40cm diameter net 

frame bearing a white, nylon net bag. The best handles are fishing landing net poles 

which can be extended from 1.5 metres to perhaps 2.5-3 metres depending on the 

model. This type of net arrangement can be used both to spot-capture an individual fly 

or to sweep flowers, foliage and herbage to obtain specimens. Because many 

blowflies are skittish and fast-flying, a long handled net that keeps your body further 

away can be a lot more productive than a short-handled kite net, though kite nets can 

be useful in more confined settings, gardens etc. 

Sweeping with a long-handled insect net 

Because many blowflies are in regular contact with carrion or excrement, it is not 

advisable to pooter them up, unless you use a mechanical pooter. Netted flies are best 

transferred to glass tubes or to a killing jar. I generally grab them with my fingers and 

put them in a killing jar, because they can damage their wings or become damp (and 

discoloured) if kept in a small glass tube for any amount of time. But remember that 

your hand is then a potential health hazard, so keep it away from your face and any 

food or drink you have. If you have some water and antiseptic wipes, it is easy to 

clean your hands in the field following handling of blowflies. 

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The best killing agent is ethyl acetate but you can also employ the old-fashioned 

technique of using crushed Cherry-laurel leaves in a killing jar, or freezing your catch 

overnight. 

Where and when to look 

Some calliphorid and rhinophorid species are fairly habitat specific or geographically 

restricted, so you need to be in the right place before you can even contemplate 

searching for them e.g. submontane parts of the Scottish Highlands for species such as 

Calliphora stelviana or a coastal areas of NW Scotland for C. uralensis. But the vast 

majority of species are much more widespread and catholic in their habitat choice and 

can be encountered in many places. 

Many calliphorids and rhinophorids like to sunbathe on foliage in sheltered spots, so 

scrutinising bramble foliage and the foliage of sunny woodland rides and hedges can 

be rewarding. Sunlit walls, tree trunks and rocks can be good too. Many species like 

to visit flowers, and umbellifers such as Hogweed, Angelica, Wild Carrot and Wild 

Parsnip can be particularly good, also composites such as Fleabane, ragworts, thistles, 

mayweeds and Oxeye Daisy. Autumn-flowering Ivy can be exceptionally good for 

Calliphora and Pollenia species where it is in warm sheltered spots. In spring, 

blossoming willows, Blackthorn, cherries, plums, apples and hawthorns are much 

used. 

Ivy flowers in sheltered and sunny locations are one of the best places to see concentrations of 

blowflies representing a variety of species 

Adult females usually require a proteinaceous meal to mature their eggs, and will visit 

fresh excrement and carrion specifically for this purpose. Carrion is also where you 

will find egg-laying females of Calliphora, Cynomya, Lucilia and Protophormia 

species. 

Wetlands are the preferred habitat of species such as Lucilia bufonivora, L. silvarum, 

Angioneura species and several Pollenia species. Calliphora subalpina, Lucilia 

ampullacea and Paykullia maculata prefer woodland and denser scrub. Synanthropic 

species that can be regularly found indoors include Calliphora vicina, Lucilia caesar 

and Melanophora roralis. 

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The best period to find and record blowflies is between early spring (when the first 

blossoms appear) and autumn (when the Ivy is flowering). But blowflies can still be 

evident in winter, especially hibernating clusterflies or the occasional winter-active 

Calliphora vicina. 

Remember that you can records blowflies in the field in other ways too. A toad 

parasitised by Lucilia bufonivora has fairly distinctive symptons. If you are an 

ornthologist licenced to study nesting birds, you may spot the maggots of 

Protocalliphora azurea attached to a nestling. But do not record it on the basis of 

pupae in a nest, because these could just as easily belong to a Calliphora species that 

has used a dead nestling. 

Pinning specimens 

There are several ways of doing this. The one I prefer is to side pin them onto 

Plastazote using a single micropin (which come in assorted sizes) through the side of 

the thorax. In this orientation it is easier to pull out the male genitalia, female 

ovipositor and mouthparts and ensure that they dry in an exposed position to allow 

easy checking. When the specimens are dry and 'set' (usually within a week), they can 

be staged. To do this, you take a short strip of Plastazote (perhaps 10mm x 3mm x 

3mm depending on the size of the specimen) and place a long, headed pin (ideally 

40mm) though one end and place your pinned specimen at the other end. A locality 

label can then be placed on the long pin. This approach is better than placing the main 

long pin directly through a specimen because once a specimen is brittle, any flex in 

the pin could damage it. It is also difficult to use long pins for tiny species such as 

Angioneura and Melanomya species or the smaller rhinophorids. 

A staged Lucilia male (left). Part of the authors calliphorid collection, which is kept in storeboxes 

(right) 

A variation upon the above theme is to pin specimen butterfly-style by placing the 

micropin through the top of the thorax to one side of the midline so that the bristles on 

at least one side of the thorax remain undamaged. The wings and legs can then be 

made to dry in the desired fashion using further micropins to hold them in place until 

they are set. This can create a very neat and nice-looking specimen, though it is 

almost impossible to get the genitalia to dry in an exposed position using this 

technique. The specimen is then staged as above, though a longer strip of Plastazote 

may be required. 

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Abroad, long pins are often used directly and inserted through the top of the thorax. If 

this approach is chosen, it is important that the storage container is lined with soft 

Plastazote rather than cork, because the pin is more likely to flex with the latter. 

Storing specimens 

Perhaps because of their size and odour, blowfly specimens are quite vulnerable to 

attack from pests such as Anthrenus carpet beetles (museum beetles), booklice and 

dust mites. It is therefore important that specimens are kept in tight-fitting containers. 

Wooden cabinets with good quality drawers or tight-fitting entomological storeboxes 

are best. It is important that these are kept away from direct contact with the floor 

(especially woollen carpets) and walls, because this will make it much more difficult 

for pests to gain access. Specimens should also be kept in fairly warm and dry 

locations, because damp will encourage mould, and this can quickly ruin a specimen. 

Body parts and glossary 

The body is divided into three main sections, the head, thorax and abdomen. The 

thorax gives rise to a pair of wings, a pair of halteres, and three pairs of legs. 

Head 

This has a pair of large compound eyes on each side which are usually much more 

widely separated on top in females than males. They are separated at the top by the 

frons, which extends from the rear of the ocellar triangle (containing three small 

ocelli) to the lunule immediately above the antennal insertions. The frons comprises a 

pair of parafrontalia (orbits) immediately beside the eyes (usually silver-dusted) and a 

darker interfrontalia (frontal vitta) inbetween. The width of the frons and relative 

width of the parafrontalia and interfrontalia can be important in identification. Frontal 

bristles line the edges of the interfrontalia and several pairs of orbital bristles can be 

present along the parafrontalia. A pair of ocellar bristles arise from the ocellar triangle 

and an inner and outer vertical bristle is present close to the inner hind corner of each 

compound eye. 

The back of the head is called the occiput and has a row of postocular bristles at the 

top and sides running parallel to the hind margin of the eye. The occiput merges into 

the genae (cheeks) below each compound eye, which contain a densely haired area 

called the genal (or occipital) dilation. The depth and colour of the genae can be 

important in identification. The sides of the face between the eyes and the facial 

ridges are called the parafacialia and are often heavily dusted. They can be bare, hairy 

or bristly. The oral opening at the bottom of the face has a pair of strong bristles 

called the vibrissae on either side at the front. 

A pair of antennae arise from the top of the face immediately below the crescentshaped 

lunule. Three major antennal segments are present, segment 1 (often termed 

the scape), segment 2 (often called the pedicel) and the long segment 3 (often called 

the first flagellomere). I have stuck to the most user-friendly terms here. The third 

segment bears a long arista which may be plumose (i.e. bearing long ray hairs), 

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Main body parts of a blowfly 

pubescent (bearing short hairs) or virtually bear. The mouthparts bare a pair of palpi, 

the colour of which can be important for identification. 

Thorax 

This is a complex part of the body, but it is mostly the upper side that is used for 

identification, especially the arrangement of bristles here. The mesonotum dominates 

the top of the thorax and has a ridge (mesonotal suture) running across the middle that 

divides it into a presutural and postsutural area. Several bristle rows run down the 

mesonotum. The central two rows are called the acrostichals. A row of dorsocentrals 

is located on each side of the acrostichals and a row of intra-alars towards the sides of 

the mesonotum. Several supra-alars are present immediately above the wing bases, 

the front of which is called the prelalar. A swollen humerus (also known as a humeral 

callus) occurs at each front corner of the thorax and has three large humeral bristles 

and often several subsidiary anterior humeral bristles in front of these. On each side of 

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the mesonotal suture is another lobe called the notopleuron with a pair of large 

notopleural bristles. At each hind corner of the mesonotum is a narrow swollen lobe 

called the postalar callus which bears a pair of strong postalar bristles. The 

semicircular section of the thorax immediately behind the mesonotum is called the 

scutellum and has a pair of apical bristles and a variable number of strong marginal 

bristles around the edges, the number of which can be important in identification. The 

relative length of these can also be important in identification. 

Abdomen 

This is clearly segmented with tergites forming the top and wrapping themselves 

around the sides. The ventral sternites are located down the middle of the underside 

between the edges of those tergites. It is important be be aware that the first apparent 

tergite is actually a pair of fused tergites and is called tergite 1+2. This means that the 

apparent second, third and fourth tergites are actually tergites 3, 4 and 5. I have stuck 

with convention here to avoid conflict and confusion with other literature. Tergite 6 

and sternite 6 onwards represents the genitalia. In the male this takes the form of a 

capsule that is retracted into the end of the abdomen and only unfolded during 

copulation. It contains a pair of cerci on either side of the anal opening and lateral 

claspers called the surstyli on either side of the cerci, the shape of both of which can 

be very important in species identification (see the diagrams for genera such as 

Bellardia, Calliphora and Lucilia). A single aedeagus is present (the equivalent of a 

penis), the shape of which is also useful for critical identification and taxonomy, 

though it has not been used in this work). It is important to ensure that the male 

genitalia dries in an exposed position when pinning and setting a male. 

The female ovipositor takes the forms of a telescopic tube. It can be important in 

critical identifications and taxononic work but is only used for the separation of 

Lucilia caesar from L. illustris here. It is most easily examined in material stored in 

preservative. 

Wings 

The wings of calliphorids and rhinophorids follow a standard oestroid pattern, with 

the final section of vein M (the section after cross vein dm-cu tending to be sharply 

upturned towards the wing tip. Exceptions occur in assorted rhinophords (and some 

tachinids) where vein M meets vein R4+5 before the wing tip to create a petiolate or 

stalked condition (see wing diagrams of species such as Melanophoria and Stevenenia 

later on). Some foreign rhinophorids (plus a number of British tachinids) have vein M 

straight which can invite confusion with flies of the family Muscidae and 

Anthomyiidae or even acalypterate flies). Various features of identification value can 

be present on the wings, including wing vein details, certain hairs, bristles and spines, 

plus patterns on the wing membrane. The shape of the lower calypter and its colour 

and presence of any hairs on its upper surface can also be valuable. 

Legs 

These comprise the usual components of fly legs i.e. a coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia 

and 5 tarsal segments terminating in a pair of claws. Features of value include the 

presence of certain bristles, leg coloration and the length and relative proportions of 

individual segments. Bristle orientation is named following a strict convention. If a 

leg was theoretically stetched to the side of the body, a dorsal bristle would face up, a 

ventral one down, an anterior one to the front and a posterior one to the rear. A 

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'posteroventral' bristle (e.g. those on the front tibiae of Bellardia pandia) is one that 

falls between a ventral and posterior orientation, and this rule can also be applied to 

posterodorsal, anterodorsal or anteroventral bristles. 

Main features of a typical oestroid fly wing 

Identifying oestroid families 

1 Mouthparts vestigial, any oral opening less than one-tenth the head 

width.…………………………………………………........................….Oestridae 

- Mouthparts obvious and oral opening at least one-fifth the head width............…..2 

2 Hypopleural bristles either absent or with hairs/weak bristles immediately below 

the hind spiracle.......................................Muscoidea (Anthomyiidae, Fanniidae, 

Muscidae & Scathophagidae) 

- Hypopleural bristles strong and arranged as a neat row (Fig 1)...….........…...……3 

3 Subscutellum (a convex pad below the scutellum) well formed (Fig 

2)..........................................................................Tachinidae (except Lithophasia) 

- Subscutellum not well differentiated…….…….............………….……………….4 

4 Inner edge of lower calypter diverging away from the sides of the scutellum when 

viewed from above (Fig 4)………......................................………...…….....….....5 

- Lower calypter with inner edge hugging the sides of the scutellum when viewed 

from above (Fig 3)..………………....................................…………..…….......….9 

5 Upper side of stem vein hairy along hind margin (p18, Fig 1). Species either 

metallic or with a strongly protruding lower face (p18, Fig, 2). Cell R4+5 always 

open........................................................................................Calliphoridae in part 

- Upper side of stem vein bare. Species never metallic. Lower face never protruding 

except for Rhinophora lepida which has R4+5 stalked...........................................6 

6 Cell R4+5 never open, vein R4+5 either stalked or meeting vein M at the wing 

margin (p 73, Figs 2-4).............................................................................................7 

- Cell R4+5 at least narrowly open (p 18, Figs 6-8)...................................................8 

7 A small, stout, shiny black species without any bristles on the tergites. R4+5 longstalked. 

Wings clear....................................Litophasia hyalinipennis (Tachinidae) 

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- Slimmer species with obvious bristles on the tergites, at least marginals on tergites 

3-5. R4+5 either short or long-stalked. Wings clouded or marked in some 

species...............................................................................................Rhinophoridae 

8 Scutellum yellowish apically. Tibiae, genae and at least tip of antennal segment 2 

reddish.............................................................................some Tricogena rubricosa 

- Scutellum never yellowish apically. Tibiae, genae and antennae 

black.......................................................................................Calliphoridae in part 

9 Thorax with wavy golden or straw-coloured hairs somewhere on its surface, often 

rubbed off the dorsal surface but in this instance visible somewhere on the 

pleurae……...........................................................…..….Pollenia (Calliphoridae) 

- No such hairs present anywhere on the thorax…….……………….................…..8 

10 Proepisternal depression setulose (Fig 5). Prosternum (the small chitinous plate 

between the base of the front coxae) hairy in most species (like p19, Fig 1). Vein 

M without a fold or appendix at the point of its upturn, the bend obtuse in some 

species and the upturned section either curved or straight (Figs 6 & 7). Some 

species metallic blue or green, at least on tergites.................Calliphoridae in part 

- Proepisternal depression bare. Prosternum usually bare. Vein M sharply upturned 

and usually with a fold or small appendix at the bend, the uptuned section nearly 

always distinctly curved at the bottom (Fig 8). Never metallic...….Sarcophagidae 

The flies most likely to be confused with blowflies in the field are other metallicgreen 

or metallic-blue members of the families Muscidae and Tachinidae. Our two 

Neomyia species (Muscidae) are strikingly similar to Lucilia greenbottles and very 

common in pastoral habitats. Look out for the shiny green frons and the straighter 

upturned section of vein M. Another common muscid, the metallic-green 

Eudasyphora cyanella is somewhat less convincing due to the stripes on the 

mesonotum and the gently curved vein M. Our other Eudasyphora, E. cyanicolor is 

deep metallic blue and resembles a Melinda species in the field but has the same 

gently curved vein M as E. cyanella and a characteristic stripe of white dusting at the 

front of the mesonotum. The metallic-green tachinid Gymnocheta viridis is much 

more bristly than a Lucilia, and a rather different shape, with a smaller head and 

longer legs. It can be common sunbathing on tree trunks in spring. 

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Greenbottle look-alikes 

The muscid Neomyia viridescens male (left and female (right) look very Lucilia-like but have a 

metallic-green frons that is especially obvious in the female. 

The muscid Eudasyphora cyanella (left) has stripes at the front of the thorax unlike any Lucilia and 

vein M is more gently curved. The tachinid Gymnocheta viridis (right) is an altogether bristlier fly with 

longer legs than a Lucilia, and vein M more strongly curved. 

Bluebottle look-alikes 

The muscid Eudayphora cyanicolor male (left) and female (right) resembles a Melinda species but has 

a whitish median dust stripe at the front of the thorax and vein M gently curved. 

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CALLIPHORIDAE – BLOWFLIES 

An extremely diverse family of flies that in Britain includes familiar bluebottles, 

greenbottles and cluster-flies plus some very different forms such as the rhinophoridlike 

genera Angioneura, Eggisops and Melanomya and the Sarcophaga-like 

Eurychaeta. Appearances can become even more striking abroad and it worth 

comparing our British fauna with that found in Australia, where Calliphora 

'bluebottles' become non-metallic 'goldbottles' and some stunning metallic and 

patterned species can be found (see the Brisbane Insects website cited in the 

References). 

In fact, there is general agreement that current concept of Calliphoridae is not a 

natural grouping with a single (monophyletic) origin, but is polyphyletic with several 

potentially good families e.g. Polleniidae, Helicoboscidae and Bengaliidae within a 

classification entwined with what remains of a monophyletic Calliphoridae plus the 

bot fly and warble fly family, Oestridae. Oestrids are are essentially specilaised 

calliphorids adapted to a parasitic lifestyle (Knut Rognes, 1997 and Systema 

Dipterorum). Concensus is currently lacking on how to resolve this conundrum. One 

option would be to be place the current concept of Calliphoridae within the Oestridae 

(an older family name), but this would have major nomenclatural implications for 

many economically and medically important species. 

In the current polyphyletic arrangement recognised by the Global Biodiversity 

Information Facility (GBIF) the family contains nearly 1900 species in almost 200 

genera with a distribtion that stretches from the arctic to various subantarctic islands. 

Diversity is highest in the Old World and a significant proportion of the New World 

fauna comprises introduced Old World species of genera such as Chrysomya and 

Pollenia. The British and Irish list currently comprises 38 species in 14 genera and 7 

subfamilies (see Checklist at end). There has been considerable instability in British 

calliphorid nomenclature historically and this is untangled in the Name Change 

Navigator at the end. 

Calliphoridae biology 

Within the British fauna, life cycles fall mostly into one of three categories: 

 

 

 

Carrion feeders and facultative myiasis agents: Calliphora, Cynomya, 

Lucilia and Protophormia. These typically use carrion but will exploit wounds 

in living mammals (a phenomenon known as myiasis). Some of these species 

are a serious source of sheep fly-strike (myiasis of sheep). Others are 

important species in forensic entomology and medicinal maggot therapy. 

Snail predators and parasites: Angioneura, Eggisops, Eurychaeta, Melinda 

and possibly Melanomyia 

Earthworm predators and parasites: Bellardia and Pollenia 

In addition to these, Lucilia bufonivora is an obligate internal parasite of amphibians 

(typically toads), Protocalliphora azurea has larvae that suck blood from bird 

nestlings and Stomorhina lunata has larvae that develop in locust egg pods. Most 

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species are oviparous but Bellardia, Eggisops and Eurychaeta are larviparous 

(viviparous). Much more information on the biology of British blowflies is provided 

by Erzinçlioglu (1996). 

Many extra life cycles occur in foreign species, including species associated with ant 

nests and termite nests. Screwworms are the blowflies that cause subcutaneous 

myiasis of mammals including humans in warmer climes and use living rather than 

necrotic tissue. They include the Old World Screwworm Chrysomya bezziana in 

tropical and subtropical parts of Asia and Africa and the New World 'Primary' 

Screwworm Cochliomyia hominivorax of the New World tropics. 

Erzinçlioglu (1989) discusses the origins of vertebrate parasitism (myiasis) in 

blowflies, arguing that it arose from saprophagous origins but has been much 

influenced by stock-farming and animal husbandry, with calliphorid myiasis being 

much rarer in truly wild mammal populations, but relatively frequent in domesticated 

stock and zoo animals, and involving facultatively parasitic calliphorid species that 

rarely attempt myiasis in more natural ecosystems. 

Sheep fly-strike 

Sheep fly-strike (also known as sheep-strike or blowfly strike) is the infection of live 

sheep by blowfly maggots. It can take place in an existing wound or can result from 

larvae burrowing into non-infected skin, especially where wool is badly soiled and 

contains skin flakes. Considerable loss of condition and even death can result and 

financial loss to sheep farmers can be considerable, so sheep fly-strike has been 

subject to considerable research. The main blowfly species involved in Britain are (in 

order of importance) Lucilia sericata, L. caesar and Calliphora vomitoria. Treatment 

is through the use of registered chemicals such as synthetic pyrethroids. As well as 

sheep, blowflies can occasionally infect other stock species plus pet species. 

Lucilia species ovipositing on wool (Photo: Chris Raper) 

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Blowflies and forensic entomology 

Human corpses can start to attract blowflies within hours of death. The process of 

maggot-assisted composition that then ensues can act as a biological clock, providing 

vital clues as to when a death occurred (the postmortem interval) plus other 

information that can assist an investigation. Analysis is not straightforward as 

variables such as temperature, weather and location all need to be accounted for. 

There is a huge amount of literature on the forensic use of blowflies. 

Greenbottles, bluebottles and muscids on a fresh Wild Boar corpse (Photo: Olga Retka) 

Maggot therapy using blowflies 

The majority of blowflies that cause myiasis in mammals use necrotic rather than 

living tissue and it had been common practice in some cultures such as Australian 

Aborigines and Mayan Indians to dress septic wounds with such maggots to prevent 

the spread of gangrene. The maggots not only eat and remove the necrotic tissue but 

also produce anti-bacterial secretions that can reduce or eliminate the infection. In 

World War 1, maggot therapy was used in a deliberate fashion as a quick and costeffective 

technique for treating infected wounds. But maggot therapy remains 

important today (including within Britain where it is available through the NHS), 

especially as some antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria are difficult or expensive to 

treat in any other way. Maggot therapy is especially useful for pressure ulcers, 

diabetes-related foot ulcers and infected burns. The main blowfly species used are 

Lucilia sericata and Protophormia terraenovae. The maggots are disinfected before 

use and are usually kept in the wound using a bag that prevents escape of the maggots 

whilst still allowing oxygen to reach them. Treatment typically lasts a few days, is 

relatively cheap and can often be undertaken at home rather than in a hospital. 

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Calliphoridae identification 

The keys presented here only cover the British species. However, it is useful to be 

aware of species that occur in Europe or synanthropic species in other parts of the 

world. There is a good chance that some of these species will arrive and maybe even 

establish in Britain. A number of widespread North American blowflies appear to be 

European imports, and there is no reason why some of theirs (e.g. Calliphora livida) 

might not end up here establishing populations around airports. Maybe they have 

arrived already. How often are the blowfly populations of ports and airports screened? 

Useful foreign accounts include: 

Fennoscandia and Denmark: Rognes (1991) 

Netherlands, Belgium and Germany: Huijbregts (2002) - a useful list but no 

keys 

Norway: Rognes online account 

European species of forensic importance: Szpila online (undated) 

Middle East: Akbarzadeh et. al. (2015) 

North America generally: Whitworth (2006) 

Eastern Canada specifically: Marshall et.al. (2011) 

Key to calliphorid genera 

1 Stem vein with long hairs above along rear edge (hairs pale in Stomorhina so 

easily overlooked) (Fig 1). Lower calypters with inner edge diverging away from 

the sides of the scutellum (Figs 3 & 4)….................................................................2 

- Stem vein bare above. Lower calypters with inner edge usually hugging the sides 

of the scutellum (Fig 5)……...........................................………………...………..5 

2 A non-metallic species with lower face strongly produced (Fig 2) and mesonotum 

strongly striped with grey and black. Male second and third tergites with large 

orange patches laterally...………..............……………………..Stomorhina lunata 

- Metallic blue or green species without a strongly produced lower face. 

Mesonotum not dusted as above….......................…………..……………….……3 

3 Acrostichals barely differentiated from the hairs of the mesonotum. Calypters 

smoky grey-brown with darker brown rims. Body dark metallic blue in both sexes 

without any obvious dusting..……………………….…Protophormia terraenovae 

- Acrostichals well differentiated. Calypters whitish or yellowish-grey, usually 

without much darker rims (though the hair fringe these give rise to may be 

darker). Mesonotum usually with obvious pale dusting, at least at the front when 

viewed from behind, the body either dark metallic blue or with green-turquoise 

reflections…………………………………………....…………………………….4 

4 Inner edge of lower calypters diverging strongly from scutellum when viewed 

from above (Fig 3). Acrostichals longer, mostly equal to the length of the 

scutellum. Antennae, basicostae and anterior thoracic spiracles blackish or 

brownish. Male eyes separated by about 1.5 times the width of a third antennal 

segment…….….............................................................…..Protocalliphora azurea 

- Inner edge of lower calypter not diverging so strongly from the scutellum when 

viewed from above (Fig 4). Acrostichals shorter, mostly about half the length of 

the scutellum. Basicostae and anterior thoracic spiracles pale brown or orange, the 

16


antennae also partly reddish. Male eyes separated by about half the width of a 

third antennal segment.……………………........….…………..….Phormia regina 

5 Final section of vein M with a conspicuous sharp bend of about 70-110 degrees 

within the basal third of its length, the final section either straight, or curved so as 

to create a concavity within cell R4+5 (Figs 6 & 7). Species robustly built, some 

with tergites metallic green, blue or bronze….........................................................6 

- Final section of vein M with a more gently curved or obtuse bend of about 130 

degrees, which is near the middle (Fig 8). Slim, non-metallic, small or very small 

species.…......................................................................................................….....13 

6 Tergites obviously metallic green or blue...……...............………...……………...7 

- Tergites not obviously metallic but always strongly patterned by dusting............11 

7 Both thorax and abdomen strongly metallic green, bronze or turquoise with any 

dusting weak and barely obscuring the underlying coloration. Suprasaquamal 

ridge with a sclerite bearing a tuft of setae (Fig 9, best seen when wings are 

open)…................……………………………….........……………………..Lucilia 

- At least thorax with some obvious dusting and never strongly reflective. Tergites 

either undusted (Cynomya) or with shifting areas of dusting. Suprasquamal ridge 

without such a tuft of setae..............................................................................….....8 

8 Lower calypters bare above. Depth of genae no more than one-third the height of 

an eye (Fig 10). Face, frons, genae and antennae (excluding any dusting) always 

dark. Tergites metallic blue…………............…..............…………..……..Melinda 

- Lower calypters with long hairs on upper surface (Figs 5 & 16). Depth of genae 

usually at least two-fifths the height of an eye (Figs 11 & 12). Antennae, face, 

frons and genae often extensively yellow, orange or reddish. Tergites metallic 

blue or green............................................................................................….....……9 

9 Only one pair of postsutural acrostichals, the prescutellar pair (Fig 13). Tergites 

entirely undusted and brightly shining blue or turquoise. Face, genae and much of 

frons yellow or orange. Male genitalia large with long curved surstyli (Fig 15). 

Female with hind margin of tergite 4 and entire surface of tergite 5 bearing very 

strong bristles.…………………………….…..............……..Cynomya mortuorum 

- Three pairs of postsutural acrostichals (Fig 14). Tergites in most species with 

obvious dusting (in Calliphora stelviana best seen when viewing abdomen from 

behind)…………………………….............................................................….…..10 

10 Tergites metallic-blue. Parafacialia only hairy on upper part (hairs not extending 

much lower than a level equivalent to the aristal insertion point, Fig 11). Lower 

calypters often hairy over most of their upper surface (Fig 5). Third antennal 

segment 3-5 times as long as wide and often extensively red or orange. Face, frons 

and genae often extensively yellow, orange or reddish…..................…..Calliphora 

- Tergites metallic-green, turquoise or bronze. Parafacialia hairy over much of 

length (hairs extending down to a level equivalent to the mid point of the third 

antennal segment or beyond (Fig 12). Lower calypters only hairy over about onethird 

of their upper surface, broadly bare around their margins (Fig 16). Third 

antennal segment 2-2.5 times as long as wide, at most red at extreme base. Face, 

frons and genae entirely or mainly dark.......................Bellardia (ex B. pubicornis) 

11 Thorax with wavy golden or straw-coloured hairs somewhere on its surface, often 

rubbed off the dorsal surface but in this instance visible somewhere on the 

sides.....…………..……….........................................................…...……...Pollenia 

- Thorax never with such hairs……………………………...........………………..12 

17


12 Lower part of parafacialia with some very long and strong bristles (Fig 17). 

Mesonotum and tergites with exceptionally long and strong bristles. Costal bristle 

barely differentiated. Closely resembling a Sarcophaga 

species….............................................................................…..Eurychaeta palpalis 

- Lower part of parafacialia without long and strong bristles. Bristles of mesonotum 

and tergites not exceptionally long or strong. Costal bristle much longer than cross 

vein r-m…......................................................................……..Bellardia pubicornis 

13 Two pairs of strong scutellar marginal bristles in addition to the apicals (Fig 18). 

Propleural depression and lunula setulose. Notopleuron with fine hairs in addition 

to the two bristles. Larger (wing length 4.5-6mm)………...…..Eggisops pecchiolii 

- Only one pair of scutellar marginals in addition to the apicals, these being much 

longer than the apicals (Fig 19). Propleural depression and lunula without setae. 

Notopleuron bare apart from the two bristles. Smaller species (wing length up to 

4mm)……...........................................………………………………..............….14 

14 Arista plumose. Parafacialia finely setulose. Prealar bristle much stronger than the 

hind notopleural. Halteres dark…….........................……………Melanomya nana 

- Arista pubescent. Parafacialia bare. Prealar no longer than the hind notopleural. 

Halteres yellow……................……..................................……………Angioneura 

18


Angioneura – least blowflies 

Small, non-metallic, somewhat muscid-like blowflies with an obtuse bend about half 

way along vein M (as in Melanomya and Eggisops). The aristae are pubescent rather 

than plumose and the parafacialia bare. The scutellum has a pair of rather short 

apicals flanked by a pair of much longer marginals. This is a holarctic genus with 

perhaps 8 species worldwide depending on how the limits of the genus are defined. 

Some are known to be oviparous snail parasitoids. Represented in Britain by two very 

rare species, with a third species, A. fimbriata, known from the near continent. 

Key to species 

- Prosternum (the narrow chitinous plate between the base of the front coxae) 

usually setulose (Fig 1). Lower calypters viewed from above broadening 

posteriorly with their inner edges hugging the sides of the scutellum (Fig 2). 

Parafacialia with a few setulae in upper half. Tergites completely dusted. Anal 

vein only extending about half way to the wing margin. Male eyes separated by 

about the width of a third antennal segment (Fig 4). A grey species with 

completely dusted tergites................................................................……..….acerba 

- Prosternum bare. Lower calypters viewed from above with their inner edge 

diverging away from the scutellum (Fig 3). Parafacialia bare. Anal vein almost 

extending to the wing margin. Male frons about one-quarter the width of the head 

(Fig 5). A darker species with tergites mostly (male) or entirely (female) 

blackish….............................................................................................cyrtoneurina 

Angioneura acerba (Meigen, 1838) 

Pale Least Blowfly 

Description & similar species WL 3-3.5mm. A tiny greyish species that could easily 

be overlooked as a small anthomyiid or muscid until the upturned vein M is spotted. 

The mesonotum and tergites have inconspicuous shifting markings with the humeri a 

little paler. The lower calypters broaden posteriorly, their inner edge hugging the side 

of the scutellum. The male frons is about the width of a third antennal segment. That 

of the female is about one-third the width of the head. 

Variation The prosternum can occasionally lack bristles. 

Flight season May to October in Fennoscandia, with British records for June, July 

and August. 

19


Habitat & biology Clearly associated with wetlands, perhaps especially spring- or 

seepage-fed marsh with shallow calcareous water. Presumed to be a parasitoid of 

snails. 

Status & distribution Rare, with records confined to Oxford, Oxfordshire (1966), 

Kennet Floodplain, Berkshire (2003), Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire (2007) and 

Stoney Moors, New Forest (2008). Quite numerous at the last-mentioned site. 

Male Angioneura acerba (left, Photo: Hedy Van Pratternburg) and pinned female (right). Notice the 

narrow frons of the male. 

Angioneura cyrtoneurina (Zetterstedt, 1859) 

Dark Least Blowfly 

Description & similar species WL 3-3.5mm. The blackish thorax and abdomen and 

smaller, strongly divergent lower calypters allow easy separation from A. acerba and 

it could be confused with Melanomya nana though the pubescent rather than plumose 

aristae, clearer wings and less elongate build should allow ready distinction. Males 

have grey dust patches on the sides of tergites 3-5 and the frons is about one-quarter 

the width of the head. That of the female is about one-third the width of the head. 

Pinned male Angioneura cyrtoneurina (left) with detail of head and thorax (right). Photos: Ian 

Andrews. Notice the broad frons of the male. 

20


Variation None noted. 

Flight season June to August. 

Habitat & biology A species of marshy areas such as water meadows and seepagefed 

marsh, usually whewre base-rich waters are present. Reared from the snail 

Oxyloma sarsii (= Succinea elegans of older literature). 

Status & distribution Rare, with records from Wick, Hampshire (1945), Westbere, 

Kent (1966), Horning Ferry, Norfolk (1928-1952), Chippenham Fen, Cambridgeshire 

(1983), Minsmere RSPB Reserve, Suffolk (2001), Kennet Floodplain, Berkshire 

(2003) and a site in the Yorkshire Wolds (2015). Also rare in Europe. 

21


Bellardia – emerald-bottles 

Medium-sized, rather robustly-built blowflies, usually with the tergites glossy 

greenish (sometimes bronze or turquoise-blue) but with a shifting dust pattern that 

mutes the colour. The thorax is more heavily grey-dusted with shifting stripes on the 

mesonotum but usually retains a trace of metallic colour. The lower calypters of most 

species have long upright hairs on basal section of the upper surface. The head 

capsule and antennae typically have an entirely dark ground colour (a little red can be 

present on the antennae) and never exhibit the extensive reddish or orange areas of 

many Calliphora species, and the antennae are much shorter. B. pubicornis (formerly 

Pseudonesia puberula) is aberrant in various respects, lacking metallic reflections, 

lacking hairs on the top of the lower calypters and having a rather protruding 

mouthedge. 

The biology is only known for a few species. Females are viviparous and the larvae 

develop as internal parasitoids of earthworms. B. bayeri appears to specifically select 

earthworms under loose bark of fallen trees and other dead wood. Most other species 

occur in a variety of habitats but B. pubicornis is strongly boreal and only found in the 

north and west of Scotland. Adults are occasional flower-visitors but are more likely 

to be seen on foliage. 

This is a Palaearctic genus with over 50 described species. A number of further 

species occur on the near continent (see Rognes, 1991 and Huijbregts, 2002) and B. 

bayeri is a fairly recent discovery in Britain. In addition to the potential for further 

Bellardia species to turn up, attention should also be drawn to Onesia floralis (also 

found on the near continent). It looks almost identical to a Bellardia in the field but 

has a no presutural intra-alar bristle but three postsutural ones (Bellardia species have 

a presutural one and two postsutural ones) and broader parafacialia. 

Male Bellardia are relatively easy to identify using genitalia (safer than using 

chaetotaxy) and checking genitalia is the best way to spot any extra species, including 

O. floralis. 


1 Tergites not obviously metallic-green, turquoise or bronze (at most a hint of 

bronze). Lower calypters usually without erect hairs on upper surface. Viewed 

from side, mouth edge clearly protruding further than the frons (Fig 1). Upcurved 

section of vein M relatively straight. Male genitalia Fig 6.......................pubicornis 

- Tergites obviously metallic-green, turquoise or bronze. Lower calypter with erect 

dark hairs on upper surface, at least basally. Viewed from side, mouth edge not, 

or barely, protruding further the frons (Fig 2). Upcurved section of vein M usually 

distinctly curved................. …………………………………………………….....2 

2 Front tibiae with two strong posteroventral bristles. Section of costa between the 

end of the subcosta and R1 with some ventral-facing hairs on lower surface (best 

seen by viewing the wing directly from the front). Male genitalia Fig 7…...pandia 

- Front tibiae with one posteroventral bristle. Section of costa between the end of 

the subcosta and R1 without anyventral-facing hairs on lower surface.…………..3 

22


3 Upper part of parafacialia with a dark spot that does not disappear when viewed 

tangentially from above (Fig 5). Calypters brownish-grey. Male genitalia Fig 

8….................................................……………………………………...……bayeri 

- Any dark mark on the upper part of parafacialia disappears with angle of view. 

Calypters yellowish-white………………..……….....................................……….4 

4 Tergite 4 viewed from the side with numerous upright or semi-upright bristly hairs 

most of which are almost as long as the marginals of tergite 3 and 4 (males) or 

clearly longer than the normal hairs of tergite 4 (females) (Fig 3). Basal wing 

veins usually blackish or dark brown, including on underside. Male genitalia Fig 

9……….......…..................................................................................…….…viarum 

- Tergite 4 viewed from side with shorter hairs, those of the male mostly only about 

half as long as the marginals of tergite 3 and 4 (Fig 4), those of the female of 

uniform length, inclined and normally without any longer outstanding hairs. Basal 

wing veins usually yellowish-brown on underside (especially in females). Male 

genitalia Fig 10............………………………………...........................…..vulgaris 

Bellardia bayeri (Jacentkowský, 1937) 

Bayer’s Emerald-bottle 

Description & similar species WL 4.5-7mm (check). A small Bellardia with 

metallic-turquoise tergites, resembling small specimens of B. viarum and B. vulgaris. 

The top of the parafacialia have a dark spot that remains visible, even when the head 

is viewed tangentially from above, and the calypters are brownish-grey. In the limited 

material seen the upturned section of vein M is relatively straight as in B. pubicornis. 

The male has very small genitalia. 

Variation Substantial size variation. 

Flight season On the continent it is recorded mainly in July and August but has been 

found in winter months. British records (some from malaise traps) suggest it flies here 

from spring until at least late summer. 

23


Bellardia bayeri male (right, Photo: Andreas Haselböck) and female head (right). Notice the brownish 

lower calypter of the male and the dark mark at the top of the parafrontalia of the female. 

Habitat & biology Several British records are from woods featuring mature and 

fallen Beech trees. The Coventry female was found in a suburban kitchen at night, 

seemingly attracted by artificial lighting. In Russia it has been reared from the 

earthworm Eisenia foetida. In Britain it has been reared from puparia found under the 

bark of Beech whilst in Denmark it has been reared from a puparium found under elm 

bark. 

Status & distribution Known in Britain from Mark Ash Wood in the New Forest, 

Hampshire (1984), Newbattle Abbey, Midlothian (1994, pupa found under loose bark 

of a fallen Beech), Buckingham Palace Garden, London (several specimens from 

malaise trap samples in 1995), Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire (one male from a 

malaise trap in 1995 and another reared from a puparium found under bark of a Beech 

log), and Coventry, West Midlands (one female found indoors in a suburban house in 

2000). John Bowden (pers. comm.) also flagged a possible female specimen taken in 

Colchester in 1995, noting the brownish calypters and persistent spot on the face, but 

the location of the specimen is not known. 

Bellardia pandia (Walker, 1849) 

Bisetose Emerald-bottle 

Description & similar species WL 4.5-8.5mm. A typical-looking Bellardia with 

metallic-green tergites that have a shifting pattern of dusting, and a dark-grey thorax 

with shifting stripes and very slight metallic reflections. The pair of strong 

Bellardia pandia male (left) and pinned female (right). You can just see the two posteroventral bristles 

on the front tibia if you zoom into the male photo. 

24


posteroventral bristles on the front tibiae, and the male genitalia allow easy separation 

from B. viarum and B. vulgaris under magnification, but separating them in the field 

should not be attempted. The hairy underside to the costa between the end of the 

subcosta and R1 is another useful feature, especially where the front tibiae have been 

damaged or lost. 

Variation Considerable size variation. The metallic reflections of the tergites vary 

from greenish to bluish-turquoise. 

Flight season Late April to early September. 

Habitat & biology Found in a wide variety of habitats, especially damper ones, 

including coastal grazing, fens, damp woods and upland mires. Records from chalk 

downland may represent stragglers from damper habitats nearby. The biology is 

unconfirmed, though it is presumed to be an earthworm parasite. 

Status & distribution Found locally throughout Britain as far north as Ross & 

Cromarty and the Outer Hebrides. 

Bellardia pubicornis (Zetterstedt, 1838) 

Northern Bellardia 

Description & similar species WL 4.5-7mm. A small and rather aberrant Bellardia 

due to the lack of metallic coloration, the strongly produced mouthedge and 

(typically) the lack of any long hairs on the upper surface of the lower calypters. The 

mesonotum and tergites have a shifting pattern of grey and black, and the tergites can 

have a very slight hint of bronze. In the field, it could easily be overlooked as a 

tachinid. 

Variation Moderate size variation. The lower calypters occasionally have 1-2 hairs 

above. 

Flight season May to September. 

Habitat & biology Known from a range of upland habitats, especially moorland with 

exposed boulders among heather between 250-890 metres; also coastal dunes with 

dune heath. The biology is unknown. Adults characteristically rest on boulders and 

stones. 

Status & distribution A scarce species with records confined to the north and west of 

Scotland from Arran in the south to Elgin and Sutherland, also St Kilda. 

Bellardia pubicornis pinned female (left) and close up of abdomen (right) 

25


Bellardia viarum (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) 

Dark-veined Emerald-bottle 

Description & similar species WL 4.5-8.5mm. Superficially resembling B. pandia 

and B. vulgaris. Separation, especially from B. vulgaris, is best based on male 

genitalia (the outwardly-splayed surstyli of B.viarum are very different to the surstyli 

of B. vulgaris) as the hairs and bristles of the tergite 4 can become damaged, though 

in good material the hairs of tergite 4 are clearly longer than in B. vulgaris. The basal 

wing veins are usually blackish or dark brown both above and below. 

Variation Much as for B. pandia. 

Flight season Late April September. 

Habitat & biology Found in a similar range of habitats to B. pandia. The biology is 

unconfirmed, though it is presumed to be an earthworm parasite. 

Status & distribution Widespread and fairly frequent over much of Britain as far 

north as Easter Ross. 

Bellardia viarum male (left) and female (right). Notice the black rather than brown basal wing veins. 

Bellardia vulgaris (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) 

Pale-veined Emerald-bottle 

Description & similar species WL 4.5-8.5mm. Closely resembling B. viarum and 

best distinguished using the male genitalia, though the basal wing veins are usually 

paler and the hairs on the disc of tergite 4 much shorter. 

Variation Much as for B. pandia. 

Flight season late April to October. 

Bellardia vulgaris pinned male (left) and female (right). Notice the brown rather than black basal wing 

veins. 

26


Habitat & biology Found in a similar range of habitats to B. pandia and B. viarum 

and often flying alongside it. The biology is unconfirmed, though it is presumed to be 

an earthworm parasite. 

Status & distribution Widespread and fairly frequent over much of Britain as far 

north as the Inverness area and the Western Isles. 

27


Calliphora – true bluebottles 

In a British context, these are the familiar bluebottles that often enter buildings and 

buzz about noisily. All of our species have metallic-blue tergites with a shifting dust 

pattern and a non-metallic, grey-dusted thorax, sometimes with shifting stripes. The 

upper surface of the lower calypters has long upright hairs which can cover most of 

the surface in species like C. vicina, C. vomitoria and C. uralensis, but rather less in 

the other three species. The face and antennae can be extensively reddish or orange. 

The antennae are longer than other metallic species except Cynomya and the aristae 

plumose. Non-metallic species occur abroad, notably in Australasia where some 

species are partially orange, reddish or golden-furred (some are termed ‘golden 

bottles’). The British species are relatively easily identified on external morphology 

alone but male genitalia can be useful when dealing with wet samples. Very small 

Calliphora individuals can be confused with Melinda species in the field but have 

longer antennae, usually an extensively orange face and, in species such as C. vicina 

and C. vomitoria, dark calypters. 

All species lay eggs on carrion and several species are important in forensic 

entomology. Different Calliphora species show subtly different preferences in the 

carrion they use and this has been studied in northern Britain (Davies 1990, 1999). 

Climate and temperature regimes also affect Calliphora assemblages, and diversity is 

higher in the north, notably in areas like the Cairngorms and Pennines where 5 of the 

6 British species can coexist. The only species unrecorded here, C. uralensis, is 

strongly associated with northern seabird colonies. All Calliphora species seem to be 

avid flower visitors and are also attracted to fresh excrement and Stinkhorn fungus. 

The synanthropic species such as C. vicina and to a lesser extent C. vomitoria and C. 

uralensis will also attempt to land on food and can be a nuisance and health hazard. 

They can also breed in garbage and poorly stored food containing meat and dairy 

products. 

This is one of the largest blowfly genera (about 150 species) with an occurrence 

centred on the Holarctic plus Australasian regions. C. genarum seems to be the only 

further species found on the near continent and resembles C. stelviana but has shorter 

aristal hairs, a dark face and a non-enlarged male postabdomen (see Marshall et. al. 

2011, which is available online, for images). However, synanthropic North American 

species such as C. livida (which resembles C. uralensis but has 3 postsutural intraalars) 

could easily be bought over and would be easy to overlook. See Marshall et. al. 

(loc. cit.) for a full account of the Calliphora species of Eastern Canada. 


1 Basicostae mostly pale brown, at least on apical half. Anterior thoracic spiracle 

orange. Genal dilation pale brown on anterior two-thirds, dark grey on posterior 

third, and entirely covered with black hairs. Male genitalia Fig 11.................vicina 

- Basicostae blackish and anterior thoracic spiracle brownish or blackish. Genal 

dilation usually entirely darkened (except some C. uralensis)............................…2 

2 Calypters white or very pale grey, the upper calypter with a whitish or pale grey 

rim. Build relatively slim, the abdomen clearly longer than wide in males, as long 

28


as wide in females. Tip of male abdomen bulbous in side view with sternite 5 

produced into two large projecting lobes (Fig 1)…….............................................3 

- Calypters infuscated grey or brownish, the upper calypter with a dark grey or 

blackish rim. Build more robust, the abdomen as wide as long, or wider (except 

male loewi where it can be a little longer then wide). Male genitalia not noticeably 

enlarged, the lobes of sternite 5 small (Fig 2)…………….................................….4 

3 Scutellum with 4-5 pairs of strong marginals in addition to the apicals (Fig 7). 

Mesonotum with distinct stripes (very obvious when viewed from behind). Male 

mid tibiae without a ventral bristle; the eyes separated by about the width of a 

third antennal segment, the interfrontalia narrower than the parafrontalia (Fig 3). 

Averaging larger (wing length to 10mm) and without an orbital bristle on each 

side of the ocellar triangle. Male genitalia Fig 9…....................…...…….subalpina 

- Scutellum with only 2-3 pairs of strong marginals in addition to the apicals (Fig 

8). Mesonotum without distinct stripes (only weak ones appearing when viewed 

from behind). Male mid tibiae with a ventral bristle; the eyes separated by about 

29


1.5 times the width of a third antennal segment, the interfrontalia wider than the 

parafrontalia and with an orbital bristle on each side of the ocellar triangle (Fig 4). 

Averaging smaller (wing length to 9mm). Male genitalia Fig 10…......….stelviana 

4 Genae extensively orange-haired. Male genitalia Fig 12...........…..……..vomitoria 

- Genae black-haired..………………………......…………………………………..5 

5 Mesonotum with a dark median stripe running between the acrostichals and 

weaker shifting dark stripes running down the dorsocentral and intra-alar rows. 

Top of parafacialia with a black and silvery-white spot when viewed from certain 

angles, the genae blackish with light dusting and shining from some angles. 

Female tergite 5 deeply notched apically (Fig 5). Male genitalia Fig 13... …..loewi 

- Mesonotum without distinct stripes. Top of parafacialia never producing a silvery, 

reflective spot, the genae brown or blackish but dulled by thick dusting. Female 

tergite 5 not deeply notched apically (Fig 6). Male genitalia Fig 14……..uralensis 

Calliphora loewi Enderlein, 1903 

Long-horned Bluebottle 

Description & similar species WL 6-10 mm. The stripy mesonotum means that this 

species could be overlooked in the field as C. subalpina, so care should be taken to 

check for the darker squamae and less swollen male genitalia. Males of C. loewi also 

have a narrower frons (about 0.75 the width of a third antennal segment). Their build 

is slimmer than species such as C. vicina and C. vomitoria but a little stouter than C. 

subalpina. Females are readily identified under the microscope by the deep cleft along 

the hind margin of tergite 5 (much deeper than any other Calliphora). They have the 

longest third antennal segment of any Calliphora, about five times as long as wide 

and only ending a little short of the mouth edge. Both sexes have a shifting silverywhite 

mark at the top of the parafacialia and the genal dilations are entirely dark with 

rather light dusting that allows them to shine from some angles. 

Variation The ground colour of the face and frons varies from entirely dark to having 

the front of the frons, much of the parafacialia and the parts of genae surrounding the 

dark genal dilation orange a female - check if this applies to both sexes. 


Calliphora loewi male (left) and female (right) showing the striped thorax combined with dark 

calypters. Notice the silvery mark at the top of the female's parafacialia and her particularly long 

antennae. 

30


Habitat & biology Typically moorland and upland woods, between 455 and 740 

metres in Wales but some lowland sites further north (e.g. Davies & Laurence, 1992). 

The larvae develop in assorted carrion. It is not particularly synanthropic. 

Status & distribution A northern and western species with records concentrated in 

the Scottish Highlands (where fairly frequent and occuring north to Orkney) but 

extending south to the Peak District and the Black Mountains of Breconshire. 

Calliphora stelviana (Brauer & von Bergenstamm, 1891) 

Little Bluebottle 

Description & similar species WL 5-9mm. A relatively small, slimly-built 

Calliphora without conspicuous striping on the mesonotum and with white calypters. 

The genal dilations are mostly dark but the face extensively yellow. The scutellum 

only has 2-3 strong marginals (4-5 in all other Calliphora). Males resemble C. 

subalpina in having an enlarged abdominal tip with expanded lobes arising from 

sternite 5, though these lobes are not quite as large as in C. subalpina. The male eyes 

are separated by about twice the width of a third antennal segment, resulting in a 

wider frons than other male Calliphora. 

Variation Check more material 

Flight season British records extend from early June to late September. 

Habitat & biology Upland and montane areas mostly between 530 to 1070 metres, 

including tall Calluna heath, Racomitrium moss-heath and the subalpine zone where 

scattered trees are present (Horsfield, 2002). Larvae mostly develop in the carcasses 

of small mammals such as shrews, voles and mice. Horsfield (loc. cit.) had 

considerable success in recording adults throughout the Scottish Highlands using 

water bowl traps. 

Status & distribution A scarce species with records confined to the Scottish 

Highlands and a few sites in the northern Pennines. Even in areas where it occurs with 

the related C. subalpina, C. stelviana clearly prefers higher altitudes (Davies & 

Laurence, loc. cit.). 

Calliphora stelviana pinned males showing the widely separated eyes (left) and swollen tip to the 

abdomen (right image: Knut Rognes) 

31


Calliphora subalpina (Ringdahl, 1931) 

Woodland Bluebottle 

Description & similar species WL 7-10mm. A rather slimly-built Calliphora, 

especially males, and one of two species with a distinctly striped mesonotum. 

Distinguished from the other, C. loewi (alongside which it can occur), by the whitish 

calypters, predominantly orange ground colour to the face, much expanded tip to the 

male abdomen (with greatly enlarged lobes arising from sternite 5), and lack of a deep 

cleft on the hind margin of the female’s tergite 5. The male eyes are separated by 

about the width of a third antennal segment. 

Variation Substantial size variation. The interfrontalia and third antennal segments of 

both sexes can vary from mostly reddish to mostly dark. 

Flight season May to October. 

Habitat & biology Strongly attached to woods over much of its range, especially 

damp/humid ones but recorded from moorland as high as 500 metres in area such as 

the Derbyshire Peaks and North Wales (Davies & Laurence, loc. cit.). It visits flowers 

such as Hogweed, Angelica and brambles, also Stinkhorn fungus. It also sunbathes on 

foliage along the edges of rides and clearings. The larvae develop in assorted carrion. 

It has been recorded in gardens and urban greenspace of various sorts but is not 

particularly synanthropic. 

Status & distribution Widespread in the north and west but extending to lowland 

areas as far south as Herefordshire and Warwickshire. Fairly frequent in the Scottish 

Highlands. Almost completely absent from SE England (there is a single Colchester 

record from John Bowden). 

Calliphora subalpina male (left) and female (right) showing the striped thorax combined with whitish 

calypters 

Calliphora uralensis Villeneuve, 1922 

Seabird Bluebottle 

Description & similar species WL 6-10mm. Resembling C. vicina in the field 

(alongside which it usually flies) but the dark basicostae and dark anterior thoracic 

spiracles allow ready separation under a microscope or a strong hand lens, and the 

genae are more extensively darkened. The male eyes are separated by the width of a 

third antennal segment. 

Variation Substantial size variation. The interfrontalia can be entirely dark or 

partially reddish. The tip of the scutellum can be brownish. 

Flight season May to October, but mainly in June and July. 

32


Habitat & biology Mostly found on cliffs and beaches, especially in the vicinity of 

seabird colonies, also around rabbit burrows on dunes. Adults can often be seen 

basking on rocks and walls close to the shore or on short turf on clifftops (Macdonald, 

2014). It will visit roadside flowers and especially umbellifers (Laurence, 1991). It 

seems to be primarily associated with bird carrion in Britain and has been reared in 

large numbers from a Gannet at Ailsa Craig, together with C. vicina (Laurence, 1987). 

It occurs less frequently in upland and montane areas of Britain, but is frequent in 

non-coastal montane areas of Scandinavia. In Scandinavia it will also use the remains 

from reindeer slaughters. It can be synanthropic, regularly entering houses in the 

Hebrides and Shetland but is generally less frequent than C. vicina. It is apparently 

mostly synanthropic in arctic Scandinavia and Russia where it can be associated with 

human latrines rather than carrion. 

Status & distribution Our most boreal Calliphora with records mostly concentrated 

in the north of Scotland (Ross & Cromarty, Sutherland, Caithness, Orkney, Shetland 

and the Western Isles) extending as far south as Ailsa Craig in the west and the Isle of 

May in the east. The distribution is most recently summarised by Macdonald (loc. 

cit.). In Shetland, it can be the commonest bluebottle in coastal areas, but becomes 

outnumbered by C. vicina in built up areas and further away from the coast. It was 

added to the Irish list by Irwin (1976). 

Calliphora uralensis male (left) and female (right) showing the dark basicosta, dark-haired genae and 

relatively unstriped thorax. Images: Roger Thomason. 

Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 

Common Bluebottle 

Description & similar species WL 5-11mm. Very easily distinguished from other 

Calliphora species by the pale brown basicostae and orange anterior thoracic 

spiracles. Over much of Britain it can be found alongside C. vomitoria and has a 

similar broad build but looks paler in the field, with bluer reflections on the tergites, 

and it lacks the orange beard and entirely dark genal dilations of that species. Males of 

C. vicina also have the eyes more widely separated (by the width of a third antennal 

segment) with the black interfrontalia is as wide as the silvery parafrontalia. 

Variation Considerable size variation. The extent of red at the base of the third 

antennal segment varies. The interfrontalia of both sexes can be partially (female) or 

entirely (male) reddish rather than black. The scutellum can be brown-tinged apically. 

Flight season Most active between April and October, though it can be found indoors 

throughout winter and can be active outside on mild winter days, especially around 

buildings and rabbit warrens. 

33


Calliphora vicina male (left) and female (right) showing the brownish basicosta 

Habitat & biology Found in many settings but abundance greatest in urban, pastoral 

and rabbit-occupied settings. The larvae develop in fresh carrion of many sorts, from 

bird nestlings to large mammals. Myiasis has been recorded in assorted mammals 

(including humans), also birds and reptiles and it is an occasional sheep-strike species. 

It will also exploit meat, meat and dairy-based products and garbage. It is the main 

blowfly responsible for fly-blown food. Adults visit many sorts of flowers, including 

spring-blossoming shrubs, umbellifers and Ivy; also Stinkhorn fungus and faeces. 

Status & distribution Widespread and common over most of the British Isles 

extending north to Shetland. Our commonest bluebottle, though sometimes 

outnumbered by C. vomitoria, and occasionally other species in wooded, upland and 

northern areas. 

Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus, 1758) 

Orange-bearded Bluebottle 

Description & similar species WL 7-11mm. Readily distinguished from all other 

Calliphora species by the orange-haired genae. The ground colour of the genae, face 

and interfrontalia is usually dark. In the field it tends to look darker than C. vicina and 

the tergites produce deeper blue reflection, often with a hint of turquoise. Males have 

the eyes separated by about 0.75 times the width of a third antennal segment, with the 

interfrontalia narrower than the parafrontalia. 

34


Calliphora vomitoria male (left) and female (right) showing the orange 'beard'. Notice the narrowly 

separated the male eyes. 

Variation Considerable size variation. The face and interfrontalia can occasionally be 

extensively reddish. 

Flight season Mostly March to November – overwintering predominantly as a larva. 

Habitat & biology Very similar to C. vicina, though less strongly synanthropic and 

more shade and humidity-loving in the south and often commoner than C. vicina in 

southern woods of such areas. However, C. vomitoria can also be the dominant 

bluebottle in moorland areas to altitudes of up to 700 metres in areas such as the 

Pennines and Wales, where it clearly capitalises on dead sheep (e.g. Davies & 

Laurence, 1991, Davies, 1999). It seems to prefer larger carrion than C. vicina. It has 

also been implicated in myiasis, including sheep fly-strike. 

Status & distribution Widespread and common over most of the British Isles 

extending north to Shetland. 

35


Cynomya – dog-headed blowflies 

A small holarctic genus (6 species) related to Calliphora but with only 1 or 2 

postsutural acrostichals, no presutural intra-alars, no dusting of tergites 1+2 to 5 

(resulting in particularly glossy tergites), and greatly enlargened male genitalia that 

are armed with long and strongly-muscled surstyli. The biology is broadly similar to 

Calliphora, and both C. mortuorum and the North American C. cadaverina (which 

resembles a dark-faced C. mortuorum) can be used in forensic entomology. 

Cynomya mortuorum (Linnaeus, 1761) 

Yellow-faced Blowfly 

Description & similar species WL 7-13mm. Abundantly different from other 

metallic-blue calliphorids with the face and front of the frons bright yellow. The 

antennae are mostly reddish except for a dark anterior edge to the third antennal 

segment. The mesonotum has shifting stripes (rather like Calliphora loewi and C. 

subalpina), though there is only a single (prescutellar) pair of postsutural acrostichals. 

Tergites 1+2 to 5 are a stunning reflective blue or turquoise without any dusting. 

Males have exceptionally large genitalia with a long, curved surstyli and a pair of 

large squarish lobes arising from sternite 5. Females have very strong bristles towards 

the tip of the abdomen. Large males are arguably our most impressive blowflies. 

Variation Tremendous size variation. The metallic colour of the abdomen can vary 

from pure blue through turquoise to greenish (females more prone to show the latter 

state). The extent of darkening on the third antennal segment varies from about 50% 

to barely evident. 

Flight season April to October. 

Habitat & biology Found in a wide range of habitats from the coast to montane areas 

and with a preference for open, expansive settings. It is not synanthropic. Larvae 

develop in carrion of various sorts (especially small mammals) but also apparently 

fish. It has been implicated in myiasis of a Brown Hare. Adults visit flowers such as 

umbellifers, thistles and Devil’s-bit Scabious; also Stinkhorn fungus. 

Status & distribution Recorded from most parts of Britain from the south coast to 

Shetland but most frequent in the north and west. It is rarely ever abundant, 

suggesting a more specialised biology than the commoner Calliphora species. 

Cynomya mortuorum male (left) and female (right) 

36


Eggisops – false woodlouse-flies 

A small Palaearctic genus (just two species) of rather small, slim, grey-dusted and 

strongly bristled blowflies that more closely resemble certain rhinophorids than other 

calliphorids. The biology is poorly understood but females are known to be viviparous 

(because gravid ones contain larvae rather than eggs) and larvae are suspected to 

develop in snails. 

Eggisops pecchiolii Rondani, 1862 

False Woodlouse-fly 

Description & similar species WL 4.5-6mm. A slim, dark-greyish, bristly fly with 

vague shifting markings on the mesonotum and tergites. Vein M has a bend of about 

130 degrees. Superficially resembling a rhinophorid of the genus Phyto rather than 

any other blowfly, but with cell R4+5 narrowly open, plumose aristae, and lower 

calypters hugging the edge of the scutellum. The head is also relatively small and 

broader than high in front view. The male frons is about 1.5 times the width of a third 

antennal segment, whilst that of the female is just under one-third the width of the 

head. 

Variation Moderate size variation. 

Flight season May to August. 

Habitat & biology Typically found in scrubby grassland and scrub edge, especially 

that on calcareous soils. This includes post-industrial sites such as old cement quarries 

and disused railway lines; occasionally in woodland. Larvae are thought to develop in 

snails and the females are known to be viviparous. 

Status & distribution Widespread but very local in southern England north to 

Warwickshire plus an isolated 1936 record from Glen Shin, Sutherland. 

Eggisops pecchiolii pinned male (left) and living female (right, Photo: Christophe Quintin) 

37


Eurychaeta – false fleshflies 

Another blowfly genus containing species that do a good impersonation of flies of 

another family, in this case Sarcophaga fleshflies (Sarcophagidae). In fact, these flies 

were classified as sarcophagids until relatively recently and E. palpalis is the 

Helicobosca distinguenda of van Emden’s 1954 sarcophagid key and Kloet & Hincks 

(1976). The resemblance in the field is quite uncanny though numerous differences 

are revealed under magnification. However, transfer of the genus from the 

Sarcophagidae to the Calliphoridae by Rognes (1986) was strongly refuted by Lehrer 

(2007) and it is treated as part of the sarcophagid subfamily Paramacronychiinae in 

The Flesh-Flies of Central Europe (Povolný, & Verves 1997). The treatment here as a 

calliphorid follows the NBN checklist and GBIF. 

Eurychaeta species are snail scavengers. A single large larva is deposited on a dead or 

dying pulmonate snail and the larva devours the entire shell contents before either 

pupating within the shell or in soil nearby. Adults will visit flowers. 

This is a small Palaearctic genus (4 species) with two European representatives. The 

other, E. muscaria is a central and southern European species with much broader 

parafacialia that only bear a single strong bristle (3-4 present in E. palpalis). 

Eurychaeta palpalis (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) 

False fleshfly 

Description & similar species WL 7.5-10mm. A fairly large, strongly-bristled, black 

and grey marked species most likely to be overlooked as a female Sarcophaga, 

though the abdomen is not quite as neatly tessellated, the bristles are much stronger, 

the parafacialia much narrower (with several very strong bristles), the proepisternal 

depression (in front of the anterior thoracic spiracle) hairy and the palpi bright orange. 

The aristae are densely short-plumose. The male frons is about one-quarter the width 

of the head, that of the female about one-third. 

Variation Moderate size variation. 


Habitat & biology Mostly recorded in scrubby calcareous grassland, the rides and 

sunny margins of woodland, and alongside hedges. Adults visit flowers such as Wood 

Eurychaeta palpalis pinned male (left) and living female (right) 

38


Spurge and Wild Parsnip. The larvae develop in helicid snails such as Cepaea species. 

Females are viviparous. 

Status & distribution Widespread but localised in southern England north to 

Warwickshire (mostly in chalk and limestone districts) with some outlying records in 

Yorkshire. 

39


Lucilia – true greenbottles 

These are the familiar greenbottles that quickly arrive at a fresh kill and often come 

indoors. All the British species are metallic-green, turquoise or coppery (the last 

usually representing older individuals). No other British genus of blowfly is as 

metallic as Lucilia, and confusion in the field is most likely with muscids of the genus 

Neomyia. These muscid look-alikes have a glossy green frons and straighter upturned 

section of vein M. Another common green muscid, Eudasyphora cyanella, is 

somewhat less convincing due to the dust stripes on the thorax and the more gently 

curved vein M. The metallic-green tachinid Gymnocheta viridis is a more strongly 

bristled, slimmer fly with longer legs and a more strongly produced frons. 

One species, L. caesar is particularly synanthropic and is the greenbottle most often 

seen indoors. L. sericata can be abundant in pastoral settings and around farmsteads 

and is the species most implicated in sheep fly-strike here, though other species have 

been reported doing this, and most British Lucilia will attempt opportunistic myiasis 

on a range of mammals. 

However, the typical life cycle involves the laying of eggs on fresh carrion and 

maggots devouring soft tissue, often as the dominant component of the first wave of 

decomposition. As such, they can be important in forensic entomology and also in 

medicinal maggot therapy. L. bufonivora is rather more specialised, developing 

internally within the head of toads as an obligate parasite. L. silvarum will also attack 

living toads but in a more generalised manner, and also uses fresh toad corpses plus 

mammal corpses in damp settings. Adult greenbottles are keen flower visitors and are 

also attracted by fresh faeces and Stinkhorn fungus. 

Lucilia is a large genus (about 250 species) with diversity highest in temperate zones, 

though a number of species thrive in subtropical conditions e.g. Lucilia cuprinus. In 

warmer climes, other metallic-green calliphorids become the familiar greenbottles, 

notably Chrysomyia and Hemipyrellia species, and there is always the chance that 

individuals of these could arrive in Britain with imports. Several further Lucilia 

species occur on the near continent (notably L. pilosiventris and L. regalis) and can be 

keyed out using Rognes (1991) and Mihályi (1977). 

The British species can mostly be identified on external morphology alone but male 

genitalia can be useful when dealing with wet samples and for screening for non- 

British species. Females of L. caesar and L. illustris can only be separated by 

checking the base of the ovipositor. The taxonomy of the British Lucilia fauna is now 

well understood, but it is worth reading Richards (1926) to see just how much 

confusion over names and species limits existed at that time. 


1 Basicosta creamy-white. Subcostal sclerite (at base of stem vein on underside of 

wing) covered in microscopic yellow hairs (Fig 1, good magnification and lighting 

required)………………………........................................................…………..….2 

- Basicosta black or brown. Subcostal sclerite with black hairs, either long and 

obvious (Fig 2) or microscopic.....……………………............................…….…..3 

40


2 Mid tibiae with a single anterodorsal bristle. Palpi orange, sometimes darker at tip. 

Gap between male eyes almost twice the width of a third antennal segment (Fig 

3). Genitalia viewed from side with relatively few straight black hairs between the 

surstyli and aedeagus (Fig 9). Female with black interfrontalia less than twice as 

wide as the silvery parafrontalia on either side and with the parafacialia broader 

than the width of a third antennal segment (Fig 16). Female tergites with 

conspicuous pale grey dusting from some angles…........................…….....sericata 

- Mid tibae with 2 strong anterodorsals. Palpi usually entirely dark brown or 

blackish. Gap between male eyes slightly wider than the width of a third antennal 

segment (Fig 4). Genitalia viewed from side with a mass of curled black hairs 

between the surstyli and aedeagus (Fig 10). Female with black interfrontalia more 

than twice as wide as the silvery parafrontalia on either side and with the 

parafacialia narrower than the width of a third antennal segment (Fig 17). Female 

tergites inconspicuously dusted…..…................................................…….richardsi 

3 Subcostal sclerite pale brown or yellowish with numerous long black hairs. 

Tergite 1+2 metallic green as in tergite 3, at least from some angles. Tergite 3 

with median marginals about half as long as the length of tergite 4 in male (Fig 6) 

and about one-quarter as long in female.....................................................…….....4 

- Subcostal sclerite dark brown or blackish with a covering of microscopic black 

hairs. Tergite 1+2 blackish and contrasting markedly with the metallic green 

tergite 3 in all angles of view. Tergite 3 with median marginals nearly as long as 

the length of tergite 4 in male (Fig 7) and half as long in female..................……..6 

4 Coxopleural streak missing (angle of view and lighting critical). Male genitalia 

viewed from side with a mass of curled black hairs between the surstyli and 

aedeagus and with the surstyli broad and blunt (Fig 12). Female third antennal 

segment almost as long as the width of the frons. Male eyes separated by about 

half the width of a third antennal segment, the whitish orbits almost touching (Fig 

5).............................................................................................................ampullacea 

- A greyish coxopleural streak present (Fig 8, indicated by red stripe). Male 

genitalia viewed from side without a mass of curled black hairs between the 

surstyli and aedeagus and with the surstyli slimmer and more pointed (Figs 11 & 

13). Female third antennal segments length about 0.75 the width of the frons........5 

5 Male eyes very narrowly separated, the whitish orbits almost touching (Fig 5). 

Male genital capsule large and bulbous, even when in normal folded position (Fig 

18). Male genitalia Fig 11. Female tergite 6 (the base of the ovipositor) with a 

convex dorsal edge when viewed from the side and apically with some long 

bristles laterally but much shorter ones dorsally in the middle (Fig 19 - the 

ovipositor needs to be extracted to see this)….......................................…….caesar 

- Gap between male eyes about the width of a third antennal segment, the whitish 

orbits clearly separated by a black interfrontalia (Fig 4). Male genital capsule 

smaller. Male genitalia Fig 13. Female tergite 6 with a straight dorsal edge when 

viewed from the side and apically with a complete row of long bristles (Fig 

20).............................................................................................................….illustris 

6 Three postsutural acrostichals present. Male surstyli relatively long and narrow 

(Fig 14). Female frons at least one-third the width of the head………..….silvarum 

- Usually only two postsutural acrostichals. Male surstyli short and blunt (Fig 15). 

Female frons slightly less than one-third the width of the head.....…….bufonivora 

41


Lucilia ampullacea Villeneuve, 1922 

Streakless Greenbottle 

Description & similar species WL 5-10 mm. The lack of a coxopleural streak allows 

ready separation from all other Lucilia species under the microscope (good lighting 

and correct angle of view vital to check this). Both sexes look superficially like L. 

caesar in the field, and males share with L. caesar the possession of a very narrow 

42


Lucilia ampullacea female (left) and close up of hind thoracic spiracle area (right) showing the lack of 

a coxopleural streak and the strong bluish tint and brownish cuticle that is typical of this species 

frons (about half the width of a third antennal segment) with the silvery orbits almost 

touching (males of all other Lucilia have the frons at least equal to the width of a third 

antennal segment with orbits clearly separated by a dark interfrontalia). However, 

males lack the large genital capsule of L. caesar and have different genitalia with a 

mass of curly black hairs, a character shared with L. richardsi. A further field clue to 

L. ampullacea is its bluish, teneral-looking appearance. It does not readily acquire the 

very green metallic appearance of other Lucilia species and often retains brown-tinted 

areas on the sides of the thorax and base of the abdomen. 



Habitat & biology Strongly associated with woodland - it seems to like shaded and 

humid conditions. It is presumed to develop in woodland carrion and is a species used 

in forensic entomology but is also implicated in myiasis of Hedgehog, cats and toads. 

Adults visit woodland flowers such as Angelica; also Stinkhorn fungus. 

Status & distribution Widespread and fairly frequent in woods of southern Britain 

with records extending more sparingly to Wester Ross. 

Lucilia bufonivora Moniez, 1876 

Toad Greenbottle 

Description & similar species WL 5.5-7mm. A small, rather slimly-built Lucilia, and 

one of a pair of species featuring the combination of a dark subcostal sclerite bearing 

microscopic black hairs, a blackish tergite 1+2 (which contrasts with the metallicgreen 

tergite 3), unusually long marginals on tergite 3, and blackish basicostae. 

Distinguished from the other species, L. silvarum, by having 2 rather than 3 pairs of 

postsutural acrostichals and different male genitalia. Females have a narrower frons 

than L. silvarum (less than one-third the head width). The male eyes are usually 

separated by just over the width of a third antennal segment. 

Variation Moderate size variation. The male frons can vary from 1.0 to 1.5 times the 

width of a third antennal segment. It can occasionally have 3 pairs of postsutural 

acrostichals. 


Habitat & biology Found in wet and damp habitats such as wet woodland, marshes 

and around ditches, ponds and lake margins. It is an obligate and specialised parasite 

of toads, the eggs being laid on the head or shoulders and the larvae then invading the 

43


nasal cavity via the nostrils. They initially feed within the nasal cavity including the 

rim of the nostrils and then consume the soft tissue inside the head, often including 

the eyes. This results in death within a few days and results in horrific injury to the 

host. Large toads are apparently preferred. Frogs are attacked to a lesser extent, and it 

has been reported developing in other parts of the body. The symptons of attack are so 

distinctive, that this may prove to be a reliable way of recording the fly. 

Status & distribution A scarce species with scattered records as far north as 

Anglesey, Shropshire and Nottinghamshire. 

Lucilia bufonivora pinned male (above left) and female (above right). Notce the rather slim build, 

blackish tergite 1+2 and presence of only 2 pairs of postsutural acrostichals. Below: an infected 

Common Toad showing typical symptoms of L. bufonivora attack (Photo: Marek Kozlowski). 

44


Lucilia caesar (Linnaeus, 1758) 

Common Greenbottle 

Description & similar species WL 5-9.5 mm. Males are easily distinguished by the 

combination of a very narrow frons (about half the width of a third antennal segment) 

and a very large genital capsule. The male of L. ampullacea looks similar in the field 

but has a much smaller genital capsule and under the microscope will be seen to lack 

a coxopleural streak and have different genitalia. Females can only be confirmed 

under the microscope, and separation from L. illustris is notoriously difficult and 

requires detailed examination of tergite 6 which forms the base of the ovipositor and 

requires retraction. 

Variation Substantial size variation. Old, worn individuals become bronze-coloured. 


Habitat & biology Found in most terrestrial habitats from the depths of woods to 

open coastal or upland settings. Often abundant in urban locations and fairly 

synanthropic, regularly entering houses/buildings and ovipositing on meat or dairybased 

products. The larvae develop on carrion of many sorts (it is often the first 

species to arrive on a dead bird or mammal) and have been implicated in myiasis of 

various mammals including humans. It is a major sheepstrike species in parts of 

Europe. Adults visit flowers of many sorts, but perhaps especially, umbellifers, 

brambles and Ivy. They are also attracted by fresh faeces and Stinkhorn fungus. 

Status & distribution Our commonest Lucilia, frequent and often abundant across 

much of Britain, though scarcer at high altitudes and possibly absent from Scottish 

Islands. 

Lucilia caesar male (left) and female (right). Notice the narrow separation of the male eyes and rather 

inflated tip to its abdomen. 

Lucilia illustris (Meigen, 1826) 

Illustrious Greenbottle 

Description & similar species WL 5.5-8 mm, averaging smaller than L. caesar. In 

males, the combination of dark basicostae and a relatively broad frons (as broad as the 

width of a third antennal segment) brings it out with L. silvarum and L. bufonivora, 

but tergite 1+2 is metallic-green like tergite 3 (blackish in the other two) and the 

subcostal sclerite of the wing base is pale brown and bears long hairs (dark and 

bearing minute black hairs in the other two). The male genitalia allows easy 

identification. Females can only be separated from those of L. caesar by examination 

of tergite 6 which requires pulling out of the ovipositor. In L. illustris, this has a fairly 

straight dorsal edge when viewed from the side (dorsal edge convex in L. caesar), and 

45


when viewed from above has a complete row of long bristles along the hind margin 

(much shorter hairs present in the middle of the hind margin in L. caesar). 

Distinguishing females of the two based on the number of ray hairs on the aristae or 

the relative length of the third antennal segment (as used by van Emden, 1954) 

appears to be unreliable. 

Variation Substantial size variation and in the tint of green on the body. 


Habitat & biology Found in a variety of habitats but considered to be more 

themophilic and heliophilic than L. caesar. Females visit flowers and faeces much as 

L. caesar. Larvae develop in carrion but have also been implicated in myiasis, 

including sheepstrike. 

Status & distribution Found throughout the British Isles with records extending 

north to Caithness. Fairly frequent but considerably less common than L. caesar. 

Lucilia illustris pinned male (left) and female (right). It is only by having the base of the ovipositor 

exposed that the female could be distinguished from L. caesar. 

Lucilia richardsi Collin in Richards, 1926 

Richards’ Greenbottle 

Description & similar species WL 5-7mm. One of two Lucilia species with creamywhite 

basicostae. It can be separated from the other, L. sericata, by the presence of 

two anterodorsal bristles on the mid tibiae and the dark palpi. Compared with L. 

sericata, males have a narrower frons. Females have the silvery parafrontalia and 

parafacialia distinctly narrower than L. sericata, the tergites less heavily grey dusted, 

and the antennae proportionately longer (almost reaching the mouthedge). The male 

genitalia allows easy identification and features a mass of curly black hairs (a 

character shared with L. ampullacea). 

Variation Moderate size variation. The tint of green can vary to some degree. 

Flight season Late April to September. 

Habitat & biology Found in a variety of habitats but possibly more thermophilic than 

L. sericata, with a particular liking for downland and open brownfield sites but not 

often recorded in wooded settings. 

Status & distribution Widespread but local in the southern half of Britain with 

records extending as far north as Lancashire. Described as new to science on the basis 

of British material by J.E. Collin In Richards (1926). 

46


Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) 

Sheep-strike Greenbottle 

Sheep-maggot Fly 

Description & similar species WL 5-7.5mm. The second of two Lucilia species with 

creamy-white basicostae. Formal separation from the other, L. richardsi, should be 

done using a microscope, though females of L. sericata can usually be spotted in the 

field because of the flashes of pale grey dusting on the tergites (more conspicuous 

than in any other Lucilia species) and the unusually broad white parafacialia, which 

gives them a ‘small-eyed, white faced’ appearance. This is a rather stocky-looking 

Lucilia. There is usually a trace of a darker median line on tergite 3. 

Variation Substantial size variation. The orange palpi can be variably darkened at the 

tip. The tint of green can vary to some degree. 


Habitat & biology Found in wide range of habitats, but especially abundant in 

pastoral settings though it can be strongly synanthropic in some areas outnumbering 

L. caesar as the indoor greenbottle. Larvae typically develop in carrion but are also 

responsible for myiasis in mammals of various sorts including man and have also 

been reared from a toad. They can also develop in garbage, including decaying matter 

of vegetable origin. This species is the main agent of sheep fly-strike in Britain (hence 

their other name of ’sheep maggot fly’). Sterile larvae can be used medicinally for 

maggot therapy. 

Status & distribution Locally common over much of Britain, though scarce in the 

Scottish Highland and Western Isles. It has been accidentally introduced to most 

temperate regions of the world and is a sheep fly-strike problem in many places. In 

warmer regions it tends to be replaced by the closely-related, non-British L. cuprina, 

another important sheep fly-strike species that has spread far beyond its natural range 

(e.g. Stevens & Wall, 1996). 

Lucilia sericata male (left) and female (right). Notice the rather broad frons in both sexes, the very 

white face of the female and her grey-dusted abdomen. It is also a very solid-looking greenbottle. 

Lucilia silvarum (Meigen, 1826) 

Marsh Greenbottle 

Common Toad-fly 

Description & similar species WL 4.5-8.5mm. One of a pair of Lucilia species 

featuring the combination of a dark subcostal sclerites bearing microscopic black 

hairs, a blackish tergite 1+2 (which contrasts with the metallic-green tergite 3), 

unusually long marginals on tergite 3, and blackish basicostae. Distinguished from the 

47


other species, L. bufonivora, by the 3 pairs of postsutural acrostichals (normally only 

2 pairs in L. bufonivora) and different male genitalia. Females of have a broader frons 

than L. bufonivora (about one-third the head width). The male frons is about as wide 

as a third antennal segment. 

Variation Considerable size variation. 

Flight season April to September. 

Habitat & biology Like L. bufonivora, this is an important parasite of toads and frogs 

and it is typically recorded in and around wetlands, pools, ditches and other features 

supporting such amphibians. The parasitism is not as specialised as L. bufonivora in 

that the myiasis is facultative and does not target the nostrils. It will also use fresh 

amphibian corpses and can switch to mammalian carrion, including human corpses, in 

damp locations. This occasionally makes it a species of forensic value. 

Status & distribution Frequent over much of Britain Isles with records extending 

sparingly north to the Outer Hebrides and Sutherland. 

Lucilia silvarum pinned male (left, Photo: Yann Loscoat) and pinned emale (right) 

48


Melanomya – little black blowflies 

In its strict sense, this is a monotypic Palaearctic genus, though GBIF lists 17 species 

by including Angioneura and the Nearctic genus Opsodexia, a classification that is not 

universally accepted. All these non-metallic species share much in common, notably 

the obtuse bend near the mid point of vein M. The plumose aristae allow ready 

separation from Angioneura species. Little is known of the biology, though its 

taxonomic affinity to Angioneura and Melinda suggests that it is a snail parasitoid. It 

is suprising that no hard evidence exists given its abundance in various countries. 

Morinia doronici, which occurs on the near continent, resembles an oversized M. 

nana but has a facial ridge between the antennae (like Pollenia) and darker wings. 

Melanomya nana (Meigen, 1826) 

Little Black Blowfly 

Description & similar species WL 3-4mm. A slim blackish species, usually with a 

rather darkened anterior edge to the wing and an obtusely curved vein M. This makes 

for a reasonably distinctive calliphorid, and it can be readily identified in the field 

with experience. Rhinophora lepida (Rhinophoridae) is a similar-sized dark species 

that can often be found alongside M. nana, but its long-stalked R4+5 and more 

conspicuously silvery parafrontalia and parafacialia allow easy separation under a 

hand lens. The male frons of M. nana is about half the width of a third antennal 

segment. That of the female is about one-third the width of the head. 

Variation Moderate size variation. The intensity of wing darkening can vary 

Flight season Mid-May to September. 

Habitat & biology Found in a variety of open habitats including dunes, calcareous 

grassland, soft rock cliffs, heathland, field margins, brownfield sites, woodland rides 

and clearings and urban greenspace. The biology is entirely unknown and has been 

the debate of much speculation. Snails seem most likely, but this is not yet proven. 

Adults are usually found resting on low sunlit herbage in sheltered settings but will 

visit flowers such as umbellifers. 

Status & distribution Common over much of southern Britain with records 

extending sparingly north to Ross & Cromarty. 

Melanomya nana male (left, Photo: Lars Brunkman) and female (right, Photo: Jeremy Richardson) 

49


Melinda – lesser bluebottles 

These are rather small, Calliphora-like blowflies with glossy blue tergites bearing 

shifting dust patterns, and a grey-dusted mesonotum with slight shifting stripes and 

feint metallic-blue reflections. The dark ground colour of the face, relatively narrow 

genae and rather short, black antennae are the more obvous differences of Melinda, 

and their closest relatives appear to be non-metallic species such as Eggisops and 

Melanomya. Melinda is an old world genus of some 66 species. Diversity is highest in 

the Oriental regions but with species extending to Western Europe, North Africa and 

even Samoa and Fiji within the Australasion regions. Some taxonomic confusion has 

affected the British species, with Melinda viridicyanea being placed in the genus 

Bellardia by Kloet & Hincks (1976). No further species occur on near continent. 

The biology of a few species is known and involves parasitism of snails and 

oviposition rather than larviposition. Adults are keen flower visitors. 


- Presutural intra-alar bristles usually strong (Fig 1). Palpi pale brown. Male eyes 

separated by about half the width of a third antennal segment (Fig 2). Male 

surstyli narrow and pointed in side view (Fig 3)………………… ..……….gentilis 

- Presutural intra-alar bristles usually absent (Fig 4). Palpi black. Male eyes 

separated by about the width of a third antennal segment (Fig 5). Male surstyli 

circular in side view (Fig 6)....….............................................…….….viridicyanea 

50


Melinda gentilis Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 

Pale-palped Melinda 

Description & similar species WL 5-7mm. Superficially resembling a small 

Calliphora in the field (the completely dark face and genae and much shorter 

antennae will allow quick separation). Easily separable from M. viridicyanea under 

the microscope using the key but not easily in the field, though it has a slightly more 

robust build (with the abdomen not much longer than wide) and averages larger. The 

narrower male frons can be checked with a strong hand lens. 

Variation Moderate size variation. The presutural intra-alar can occasionally be 

weak. 

Flight season Late March to early October. 

Habitat & biology Usually found in and around woodland and dense scrub, 

especially (but not exclusively) that on calcareous soils. Males will often cluster in 

large numbers on sun-dappled foliage (in a similar manner to some muscids). Host 

snails include Cernuella virgata and Helicella itala. 

Status & distribution Widespread but rather local in most districts with records 

extending north to the Inverness area. 

Melinda gentilis living male (left) and pinned female (right). Notice the narrowly separated eyes and 

rather broad build of the male. 

Melinda viridicyanea (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) 

Dark-palped Melinda 

Description & similar species WL 4.5-7mm. Easily separable from M. gentilis under 

the microscope but not easily in the field, though it has a slightly slimmer build (with 

the abdomen distinctly longer than wide) and averages smaller. The broader male 

frons can be checked with a strong hand lens. 


Flight season Late March to mid-October. 

Habitat & biology It uses a much greater variety of habitats than M. gentilis, 

including woodland, wetlands, coastal dunes and shingle, plus brownfield sites, 

sometimes in base-poor heathland districts. Host snails include Cernuella virgata and 

Discus rotundatus, wth eggs being laid in the pulmonary cavity. Adults can be 

observed on a variety of flowers, including umbellifers, thistles, knapweeds, 

mayweeds, Oxeye Daisy, buttercups and Ivy. 

Status & distribution Frequent over much of Britain with records extending north to 

the island of Pabay (near Skye) and Rum. 

51


Melinda viridicyanea male (left) and female (right). Notice the slightly greater separation of the eyes 

and rather narrow build of the male compared with M. gentilis. 

52


Phormia – black blowflies 

A monotypic genus which is now widespread in warmer parts of the Palearctic and 

Nearctic, though scarce on the near continent. However, this is a species prone to 

being transported accidentally so should be looked out for here, though there is no 

evidence it has ever been a resident of Great Britain and Ireland. 

Phormia regina (Meigen, 1826) 

Black Blowfly 

Description & similar species WL 6-9mm. A metallic greenish or bluish species (the 

tergites usually bluer than the mesonotum) most resembling Protophormia 

terraenovae, but with whitish calypters (with short white hairs on the lateral parts of 

the upper surface) and a thin dusting of the mesonotum (but without the paler stripes 

at the front seen in Protocalliphora azurea). The acrostichals are weak but obvious 

(barely evident in P. terraenovae; much longer in P. azurea) and the antennae 

extensivly reddish (entirely or mostly dark in the other two species). The mesonotum 

has 1 presutural and 2 postsutural intra-alars. The anterior thoracic spiracles are 

orange. The male eyes are separated by less than half the width of a third antennal 

segment (much less than in males of the other two) and the head is rather large and 

globose, producing an overall body shape reminiscent of Pollenia amentaria. The 

female frons is slightly under one-third the head width. 

Variation Substantial size variation and some variation in the metallic tint. 

Flight season July, August check more data. 

Habitat & biology The larvae develop in carrion and it has been implicated in human 

and animal myiasis. It is a species of forensic value in hotter climes and is also used in 

maggot therapy. 

Status & distribution Only known as British from a very old Oxfordshire record. 

There is another old record from Dublin. It is not common on the near-continent 

check. 

Phormia regina male (left) and female (right). Photos: Tom Murray. 

53


Pollenia – clusterflies 

Clusterflies are amongst our most numerous and universal blowflies. They most 

attract attention when they enter buildings in late summer and autumn to overwinter. 

They are broadly-built, rather flattened calliphorids that, when fresh, have a 

characteristic covering of yellow, crinkly hairs over the top and sides of the thorax. 

These hairs quickly get rubbed off, though it is rare to find an old one without some 

crinkly hairs still present on the sides of the thorax. 

Despite the superficial similarity of most of the British species, they are relatively 

straightforward to identify under a microscope on external morphology, and a single 

character state (e.g. the dark abdomen of P. amentaria, tuft of hairs under the wing of 

P. pediculata or reduced number of scutellar marginals or intra-alars in P. 

griseotomentosa) will often suffice. But even in the more challenging species, such as 

those most resembling P. rudis, a surprising number of microscopic characters are 

available. However, care should be taken to screen for extra species present on the 

near continent such as P. atramentaria and P. mayeri, and having the genitalia 

exposed on pinned material will assist. 

Like Bellardia, these are earthworm parasitoids, though relatively little is known 

about species-levels preferences. However, some niche differention can be detected as 

there are differences in the timing of peaks of different species. This is most 

noticeable in districts where several species occur together. P. griseotomentosa and P. 

labialis also show a rather strong attachment to wetlands. 

About 200 species are described globally and the genus is widespread in the 

Holarctic, Oriental and Australasian regions. There has bee much recent transfer of 

species between continents, with many of the commoner European species now well 

established in North America (Jewiss-Gaines et.al., 2012), and species like P. 

pediculata well established in New Zealand where is has become a pest (Heath et. al., 

2004, as P. pseudorudis). 


1 Tergites blackish-grey without conspicuous dusting (a very faint pattern of 

tessellations can be made out if viewed obliquely from behind). Scutellum usually 

with 4-5 strong marginals in addition to the apicals (Fig 1). Mesonotum thinly 

dusted with some pale dusting behind the head but no hint of stripes. Broadbodied, 

the males ‘big-headed’ with the orbits of the frons virtually 

touching…………………………………………………….......………..amentaria 

- Tergites with a conspicuous shifting pattern of grey dusting (but beware 

specimens that have turned black due to grease or exposure to damp). Scutellum 

usually with only 2-3 strong marginals in addition to the apicals (Figs 2 & 3). 

Mesonotum often with more obvious stripes at the front. Males of most species 

smaller-headed, some with the orbits clearly separated by a black interfrontalia 

(Fig 7)…..............................................................................................................….2 

2 Node at the junction of the humeral cross-vein and subcosta on underside of wing 

with a tuft of yellowish hairs (Fig 9).................................……...……….pediculata 

54


- Node at the junction of the humeral cross-vein and subcosta without a tuft of 

yellowish hairs…………………….......................................…………….………..3 

3 Mesonotum in front of suture with a median dark stripe, the width and intensity of 

which varies according to angle of view, plus broader black stripes at the sides 

starting just inward of the humeri. Humeri with 2 or more anterior bristles in front 

of the main 3 bristles. Two presutural intra-alars present on each side of 

mesonotum. Third antennal segments only about 1.5 times as long as the second. 

Tessellation of the tergites rather weak with a distinct dark median stripe 

appearing on tergites 3-5 from some angles, plus slight bluish tints. Build 

unusually slim, long-legged and long-winged.........................................vagabunda 

- Mesonotum in front of suture without a median dark stripe (a pair of very weak 

stripes may run between the acrostichals and dorsocentrals). Humeri without 

anterior bristles in front of the main three bristles. Only one presutural intra-alar 

on each side of the thorax. Third antennal segments about twice as long as second. 

Tessellations of the tergites well formed in most species. Build stockier without 

noticeably long wings or long legs.…......................................................................4 

4 Outer posthumeral bristle missing (Fig 4). Facial keel barely extending below the 

antennal sockets. Scutellum with only two pairs of scutellar marginals in addition 

to the apicals. Males noticeably short-legged, the front tarsi and tibiae of equal 

length. Small (wing length rarely exceeding 6.5mm)...…….….…griseotomentosa 

- Outer posthumeral bristle usually present (Fig 5). Facial keel extending well 

below the antennal sockets (except labialis). Scutellum with three pairs of 

scutellar marginals in addition to the apicals. Males with the front tarsi longer than 

the front tibiae. Typically larger (wing length regularly to 8-8.5mm)....……...…..5 

5 Posterior thoracic spiracles brown. Basicostae coal-black. Facial keel weak, 

usually petering out before a point level with the mid point of the third antennal 

segment (Fig 14). Third antennal segments only red at their extreme base and 

usually slightly more than twice as long as the second segment.......….……labialis 

- Posterior thoracic spiracles yellowish. Basicostae usually brown, at least apically. 

Facial keel stronger, usually petering out at a point just short of the tip of the third 

antennal segment (Figs 12 & 13). Third antennal segments more extensively red 

and at most twice as long as the second segment.…...............................………….6 

6 Palpi reddish-orange for apical third or more. Facial ridge broad and flattened on 

its crest, about as wide as a third antennal segment in the male (Fig 13) or half as 

wide in the female. Both sexes with 2-3 anteroventrals on the mid tibiae. Male 

with eyes usually separated by slightly more than the width of a third antennal 

segment and male hind tibiae without long anteroventral hairs half way 

along................................................................................................................viatica 

- Palpi dark. Facial ridge narrow and ridged along its crest (Fig 12). If palpi slightly 

reddish at tip, either mid tibiae with only a single anterodorsal, or male eyes 

separated by only half the width of a third antennal segment (Fig 8), or male hind 

tibiae with long anteroventral hairs (Fig 17), or hind femora with short yellow 

hairs posteroventrally..………………………………………………….....7 

7 Mid tibiae with 2-3 anterodorsals. Hind femora entirely covered with black hairs. 

Male eyes typically separated by the width of a third antennal segment (Fig 7). 

Depth of male genae usually about 0.6x the height of an eye, the parafacialia 

wider, about 3 times the width of a third antennal segment (Fig 10). Male hind 

tibiae mid way along with many anteroventral hairs that are almost as long as the 

width of the tibia (Fig 17). Male abdomen, viewed from side ventrally with a 

55


dense fine pile of hairs that are mostly perpendicular to the tergite surface (Fig 

15)……….…...........................................................................……………..…rudis 

- Mid tibiae with only 1 anterodorsal. Hind femora yellow-haired posteroventrally 

(lighting and angle of view critical to see the hair colour clearly). Male eyes 

typically separated by half the width of a third antennal segment (Fig 8). Depth of 

male genae usually about 0.5x the height of an eye, the parafacialia only about 

twice the width of a third antennal segment (Fig 11). Male hind tibiae with any 

anteroventral hairs much shorter than the width of the tibia (Fig 18). Male 

abdomen viewed from side ventrally with a sparser pile of hairs that are somewhat 

inclined with respect to the tergite surface (Fig 16)....…..................….angustigena 

Pollenia amentaria (Scopoli, 1763) 

Black-bellied Clusterfly 

Description & similar species WL mm. WL 4.5-8.5mm. Our most distinctive 

Pollenia due to the dark abdomen and broad build. Fresh specimens look particularly 

striking, with the fine yellow hairs of the mesonotum contrasting strongly with the 

dark tergites. The extra marginals on the scutellum is another distinction, and males 

have a particularly large and globose head with a very narrow frons (eyes separated 

by about half the width of a third antennal segment). 

Variation Considerable size variation. The number of pairs of scutellar marginals 

varies between 3 and 5, but is usually 4 or 5. 

56


Flight season March to October. 

Habitat & biology Found in a wide variety of habitats but often in the vicinity of 

damp habitats. Adults will visit a variety of flowers including umbellifers, thistles, 

Heather and Ivy. The larvae are presumed to be earthworm parasites but the host is 

unknown. 

Status & distribution Widespread but local in the south, becoming more abundant in 

Wales and Scotland, and common in the Scottish Highlands except the far north. 

Pollenia amentaria male (left, Photo: Nigel Jones) and female (right, Photo: Ian Andrews) showing the 

blackish tergites and large eyes of the male. 

Pollenia angustigena Wainwright, 1940 

Narrow-cheeked Clusterfly 

Description & similar species WL 4.5-8 mm, averaging smaller than P. rudis (on par 

with P. pediculata) with yellowish hairs on the posteroventral surface of the hind 

femora, as in P. viatica (hairs black in P. rudis). Otherwise resembling P. rudis 

(formerly considered a variety of rudis) but with a host of microscopic differences. 

The mid tibiae only have a single anterodorsal bristle (a character only shared with P. 

griseotomentosa and P. vagabunda) and the male eyes are only separated by about 

half the width of a third antennal segment. In side view, the male genae and 

parafacialia are rather narrower than P. rudis. Further distinctions of P. rudis are 

given under that species. 

Pollenia angustigena male (left) and female (right). Notice the very narrowly separated eyes of the 

male. 

57


Variation Substantial size variation and a little variation in the width of the male 

frons. Some specimens can have just a single outer posthumeral bristle (as in P. 

griseotomentosa). 

Flight season Active from March until October, and overwintering as an adult. It can 

be especially abundant in spring and late summer-early autumn. 

Habitat & biology Found in many habitats without any clear preferences and often 

clustering in large numbers on sunlit foliage. It visits a wide range of flowers, 

including spring-blossoming shrubs and Ivy. The larvae are presumed to be 

earthworm parasites but the host is unknown. 

Status & distribution Widespread and common in many areas – often the most 

abundant Pollenia over large areas during certain weeks of the year. Scarcer in the 

Scottish Highlands. 

Pollenia griseotomentosa (Jacentkowský, 1944) 

Little Clusterfly 

Description & similar species WL4-7 mm. Averaging as our smallest Pollenia and 

the only one lacking an outer posthumeral bristle and having only 2 pairs of marginals 

on the scutellum (all other Pollenia have at least 3 pairs). The facial keel is very short. 

Males are relatively distinctive due to their very short tarsi and proportionately large, 

globose heads with very narrowly separated eyes. This creates a somewhat dumpy 

appearance. Females are less distinctive and care needs to be taken with small 

individuals of other species, particularly P. angustigena which shares with P. 

griseotomentosa the possession of only one anterodorsal on the mid tibiae. 


Flight season Active from March until October, and overwintering as an adult. 

Habitat & biology Found in a variety of damp habitats including fen, damp 

woodland and other marshy areas. The larvae are presumed to be earthworm parasites 

but the host is unknown. 

Status & distribution Widespread but local in most areas extending north to the 

Moray Firth and the island of Raasay, near Skye. Never attaining the abundance of the 

commonest Pollenia species. 

Pinned male (left) with details of the head and thorax (right) 

58


Pollenia labialis Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863 

Dark-based Clusterfly 

Description & similar species WL4.5-8.5 mm. Resembling P. rudis but with the 

unique combination of coal-black basicostae and brown (rather than yellowish) 

posterior thoracic spiracles. It also has a short and weak facial ridge and the third 

antennal segments are longer (usually over twice as long as the second segment) and 

darker (only red at the extreme base). The mid tibiae have 2-3 anterodorsals and the 

male eyes are separated by just under the width of a third antennal segment. The 

female hind femora are entirely black-haired. It looks a little darker in the field than 

other rudis-like species, particularly about the wing bases. 


Flight season Active from April until October, and overwintering as an adult. 

Habitat & biology Usually associated with damp habitats such as coastal levels, dune 

slacks, fens and valley mire and sometimes quite common in these locations. The 

larvae are presumed to be earthworm parasites but the host is unknown. 

Status & distribution Widespread but rather local, with records extending north to 

East Ross. 

Pollenia labialis male (left) and female (right). Notice the coal-black basicosta. Photos: Tom Murray. 

Pollenia pediculata Macquart, 1834) 

Tufted Clusterfly 

Description & similar species WL 4.5-8 mm. Superficially resembling species such 

as P. rudis (but averaging smaller and slightly slimmer) and P. angustigena. Under 

the microscope it is readily separated from these and other Pollenia species by a tuft 

of yellowish hairs on the underside of the wing where the humeral crossvein meets the 

subcosta (angle of view and lighting critical to see these). The mid tibiae have 2-3 

anterodorsals and the male frons is about the width of a third antennal segment i.e. 

wider than P. angustigena and within the range of P. rudis. The facial keel is long and 

sharp as in P. rudis and P. angustigena. 

Variation Substantial size variation. The basicostae can be quite dark in some which 

can lead to initial confusion with P. labialis (which has dark posterior thoracic 

spiracles and weaker facial keel). 

Flight season Active from March until October, and overwintering as an adult. It can 

be especially abundant in spring and late summer-early autumn and is of the main 

clustering species in buildings. 

Habitat & biology Found in a similar range of habitats to P. rudis and P. angustigena 

and usually found flying alongside these species. The earthworm Eisenia rosea is a 

known host. 

59


Status & distribution Widespread and common – often outnumbering other Pollenia 

species during certain weeks of the year, though scarce in the Scottish Highlands. 

Pollenia pediculata male (left,) and female (right) 

Pollenia rudis (Fabricius, 1794) 

Awkward Clusterfly 

Description & similar species WL 4.5-8.5 mm. Our best known Pollenia but 

superficially very similar to P. angustigena, P. labialis, P. pediculata and P. viatica. 

Males have two characters that set them apart from the others: the hind tibiae have 

numerous outstanding hairs along the anteroventral surface of the middle section (the 

longest of which are almost as long as the thickness of the tibia) and the ventralfacing 

surfaces of tergites 3 and 4 have a particularly dense covering of fine hairs that 

are mostly perpendicular to the surface of the tergite (hairs sparser and/or more 

inclined in the other four species). Other characters shared by both sexes that assist in 

identification include: entirely black-haired hind femora (ruling out P. angustigena 

and P. viatica), 2-3 anterodorsals on the mid tibiae (ruling out P. angustigena), a 

fairly long and sharp facial ridge (ruling out P. labialis and P. viatica), yellowish hind 

thoracic spiracles and brownish basicostae (ruling out P. labialis), dark palpi (ruling 

out P. viatica) and no tuft of hairs on the underside of the wings where the humeral 

cross-vein meets the subcosta (ruling out P. pediculata). The male eyes are separated 

by about the width of a third antennal segment (ruling out P. angustigena). 

Pollenia rudis male (left,) and female (right) 

60


Variation Substantial size variation. The palpi can be dark or narrowly reddish at the 

tip. The basicostae can be rather dark in some but never the coal-black of P. labialis. 

The mid tibiae occasionally only have a single anterodorsal. 

Flight season Most active from March until October (with pronounced peaks of 

abundance within this), but often recorded as adults overwintering within buildings. 

Habitat & biology Found in a wide range of habitats, and common in urban settings. 

The larvae have been reared from earthworms of the genera Aporrectoda, Eisenia and 

Lumbricus. Adults visit a variety of flowers. They generally start to enter houses in 

late summer or early autumn and can form large clusters which can create a nuisance. 

It is not uncommon to find many dead clusterflies on a floor or window pane (though 

having checked many such samples, it is clear that P. angustigena and P. pediculata 

can also be involved in clustering). Infestations can pose a potential health risk, 

especially if large numbers of dead flies end up in water tanks. 

Status & distribution Seemingly widespread and common over much of Britain to 

northern Scotland (the commonest Pollenia of the Scottish Highlands). NBN records 

are likely to include misidentifications. 

Pollenia vagabunda (Meigen, 1826) 

Vagabund Clusterfly 

Description & similar species WL 7-7.5mm. An aberrant Pollenia in various 

respects, with a slimmer, longer-legged and longer-winged build than our other 

species, a dark median stripe at the front of the mesonotum, a very short third 

antennal segment, and shifting markings on the tergites that are less tessellated than 

most other Pollenia. The humeri have 2-3 small bristles anteriorly in addition to the 

three main ones and there are two presutural intra-alars on each side of the 

mesonotum. The tergites also produce slight blue tints from some angles. 

Variation Little noted. 

Flight season Most active from April to October, but hibernating as an adult and 

recorded in most winter months. 

Habitat & biology Recorded from a variety of habitats, with no obvious preference. 

The larvae are presumed to be earthworm parasites but the host is unknown. 

Status & distribution Our scarcest Pollenia, with relatively few records (mostly old) 

extending from the south coast of England to the Inverness area. The largest cluster of 

modern records is from the Scottish Highlands. 

Pollenia vagabunda living (left, Photo: Tom Murray) and pinned (left) showing the median stripe of 

the thorax and rather slim, leggy build 

61


Pollenia viatica Robineau-Desvoidy, 1944 

Orange-palped Clusterfly 

Description & similar species WL 4.5 – 8.5 mm. Resembling P. rudis and matching 

its size but usually readily separable from this and other rudis-like species by the 

broadly orange tips to the palpi (the orange usually occupying at least the apical third 

or more). Where doubt exists (some of the other species can have the extreme tip of 

the palpi reddish) males of P. labialis have a very broad, flat-topped facial ridge 

between the antennae (almost as wide as the width of a third antennal segment) and 

there are further differences from P. rudis discussed under that species. Females also 

have a broad facial ridge but not to the extent shown by the male. In both sexes the 

hind femora are yellowish haired posteroventrally, as in P. angustigena (black-haired 

in P. rudis) There are 2-3 anterodorsals on the mid tibiae and the basicosta is pale 

brown. The male frons is about the width of a third antennal segment. 

Variation Substantial size variation. Some variation in the extent of orange at the tip 

of the palpi. 

Flight season Reliable records seem to be from June to August, without the very long 

flight period and spring plus autumn peaks of other species. This suggests a different 

ecological strategy may be at play. 

Habitat & biology Found in a variety of habitats. It can be particularly abundant on 

coastal levels, dunes, chalk downland and at sandy Breckland sites. The larvae are 

presumed to be earthworm parasites but the host is unknown. 

Status & distribution Widespread but rather local in southern Britain with records 

extending to south Scotland. 

Pollenia viatica pinned female (left) and close up of haad showing the pale palpi (right) 

62


Protocalliphora – bird blowflies 

These are blue or greenish, rather flattened blowflies with distinct dust stripes on the 

mesonotum, at least on the front immediately behind the head. All species are obligate 

external parasites of bird nestlings, periodically attaching themselves to the skin of the 

nestling with a crown of setae and then sucking the blood of the bird. A badly infested 

nest may harbour several hundred larvae, and in such instances, the nestlings will 

probably all die. However, a small infestation may not result in mortality. If the 

maggot enters the nasal cavity it can cause the beak to become deformed (‘shovelbeaked’). 

Protocalliphora diversity is particularly high and well-studied in North 

America, and a paper by Bennett & Whitworth (1992 reveals how different species 

show different host preferences and different degrees of host specificity. 

This is a holarctic genus with about 45 species but only a single one occurs here. 

However, several further species occur on the continent (see Rognes, 1991) and any 

specimens with pure white calypters or where the parafrontalia and parafacialia are 

brown will need to be checked carefully. The closely related genus Trypocalliphora 

(represented by a single species, T. braueri) also occurs in NW Europe but has bright 

yellow basicostae, calypters and thoracic spiracles. It is a subcutaneous bird nestling 

parasite. 

Protocalliphora azurea (Fallén, 1817) 

Bird Blowfly 

Description & similar species WL 5.5-9.5mm. A medium-large, rather flattened 

blowfly with rather different-looking sexes. Males are deep blue-black, usually with a 

pair of paler ‘dorsocentral’ dust stripes at the front of the mesonotum (best seen from 

behind). Females are greener with pronounced shifting dust stripes on the mesonotum 

and grey-dusted humeri. In both sexes, the ground colour of the head capsule and 

antennae are black, with pale grey dusting on parafrontalia and parafacialia. The 

acrostichals are well formed and the calypters are pale yellowish-grey but not usually 

pure white. The male eyes are seprated by about the width of a third antennal 

segment; the female frons is about one-quarter the width of the head. When resting, 

the wings are normally held tightly over the abdomen in the same fashion as 

Protophormia terraenovae rather than the delta-winged fashion of Calliphora and 

Cynomya. 

Protocalliphora azurea male (left) and female (right) 

63


Variation Substantial size variation. The female reflections can vary from turquoiseblue 

to decidedly greenish. In some males, the pale dust marks at the front of the 

mesonotum are barely detectable. The calypters can occasionally be white (a feature 

that characterises some non-British species). 

Flight season April to October, as two generations. Overwintering is apparently as an 

adult. 

Habitat & biology Found in a variety of habitats, but usually in the vicinity of 

woodland, trees or shrubs. The larvae mostly seem to develop in the nests of smaller 

passerines. Adults visit flowers such as umbellifers and Ivy. Females also like to feed 

on human sweat and fresh bird droppings. They have a particular liking for basking 

on tree trunks and fence posts. They will occasionally enter houses, possibly 

searching for nests, as they are not attracted by food or carrion. 

Status & distribution Widespread and fairly frequent in most areas with records 

extending north to Ross & Cromarty. 

64


Protophormia – blackbottles 

A genus of deep-blue, rather flattened blowflies resembling Protocalliphora species 

but with the thorax undusted and acrostichals barely distinguished from the 

surrounding hairs. The lower calypters are also less divergent and darker, with a 

covering of tiny black hairs on the upper surface. The larvae develop in carrion and 

seem to prefer corpses in cool, boreal conditions. Indeed, subfossil puparia of P. 

terraenovae have been found in large numbers associated with the remains of tundradwelling 

European Bison and Woolly Rhinoceros dated at 75,000 years old and also 

the remains of Mammoth. The only other species, P. atriceps, has a strongly 

protruding lower face, aristae almost bare below and an entirely black third antennal 

segment. It is an alpine and boreo-montane species with lavae that can take two years 

to develop. Both species show a Holarctic distribution. 

Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) 

Blackbottle 

Description & similar species WL 6-9mm. Resembling Protocalliphora azurea but a 

deep blue-black throughout without any obvious dusting on the mesonotum, smokygrey 

calypters with dark rims, and acrostichals that are barely differentiated from the 

normal hairs of the mesonotum. The parafacialia are dusted grey-white. The male 

frons is about 1.5 times the width of a third antennal segment, the female frons just 

over one-third the width of the head. The tip of second antennal segment and base of 

the third are reddish. When resting, the wings are normally held tightly over the 

abdomen in the same fashion as P. azurea rather than the delta-winged fashion of 

Calliphora and Cynomya. 

Variation Substantial size variation. The interfontalia can occasionally be partially 

reddish 

Flight season Adults have been recorded in all months of the year but are most 

evident from May to September, representing two generations. 

Habitat & biology Found in a range of habitats and very exposure tolerant, so can 

occur in montane areas, exposed moorland and exposed coastal areas, and overwinter 

as an adult. The larvae develop in carrion of various sorts and mature much more 

rapidly then those of other carrion-exploiting blowflies. It has been implicated in 

myiasis of grazing stock, reindeer and other wild animals. It is also one of the main 

blowfly species used in maggot therapy and can be useful in forensic entomology. It 

Protophormia terraenovae male (left, Photo: Jan Zwaaneveld) and female (right) 

65


is strongly synathropic under some circumstances, often reaching nuisance levels in 

slaughter houses, poultry farms and refuse dumps, and then entering nearby houses. 

Status & distribution Frequent in northern and western areas extending north to 

Shetland but becoming scarce in south-east England. 

66


Stomorhina – locust blowflies 

Medium-sized calliphorids with strongly projecting lower faces, banded eyes, and 

tergites that can be strongly marked or even entirely orange. There can be fairly 

strong sexual dimorphism affecting the abdomen in particular and some species 

resemble hoverflies more than other blowflies. The stem vein of the wing bases has 

long hairs on the hind edge of its upper part side, and the lower calypters diverge 

away from the sides of the scutellum. The larvae of some species develop in the egg 

pods of locusts and larger grasshoppers. Other species are associated with ant nests. 

This is an Old World genus that is well represented in Africa, south Asia and 

Australia. Over 60 species have been described. There are no further species known 

from the near continent. 

Stomorhina lunata (Fabricius, 1805) 

Locust Blowfly 

Description & similar species WL 5-7mm. A very distinctive fly, with rather 

different-looking sexes. In both, the strongly projecting, partially shiny-black lower 

face provides a unique character amongst British calliphorids. The mesonotum is 

greyish with three broad greyish-bronze stripes. When alive, the eyes have about 6 

horizontal stripes. In the male, tergites 3 and 4 have large orange patches at the sides 

(creating an appearance rather like male Musca autumnalis). The eyes virtually touch 

on the top of the head and the genae and sides of the thorax have a rather dense 

yellow pile. In females, the yellow patches are usually weak or missing and the sides 

of tergites 3-5 have grey dust patches with black spots coinciding with the hair 

sockets. The female frons is about one-third of the head width and the genae and sides 

of the thorax have a less conspicuous whitish pile. Vein M is rather curved in its 

apical upturned section making cell r-m convex apically. 

Variation Female can have a variable amount of yellow ground colour at the sides of 

tergites 3 and 4. Moderate size variation in both sexes. 

Flight season June to October. 

Habitat & biology Found in a variety of warm, open, flowery habitats. The larvae 

develop in the egg pods of various locusts e.g. Locusta migratoria. Adults visit a 

variety of flowers, including umbellifers, mints, ragworts, Fleabane, thistles and 

Michaelmas daisies. 

Stomorhina lunata male (left, Photo: Tim Ransom) and female (right) 

67


Status & distribution Formerly regarded as a rarity (e.g. Wainwright, 1949), it is 

now quite frequent in SE England with records extending as far north as the 

Newcastle area (check). Given that it appears unable to use any British grasshoppers, 

it is likely that all records relate to vagrants that have flown in from the continent. 

Like many migratory insects it has periodic eruptions and 'good years'. 1901 was the 

first of these noted by entomologists (Perry, 2006), and the period 2004-2006 also 

saw an unusually high number of records (see Dipterists Digest 2006 for a batch of 

papers). 

68


References & further reading (Calliphoridae) 

Akbarzadeh, K, Wallman, J.F., Sulakova, H. & Szpila, K. (2015) Species 

identification of Middle Eastern blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of forensic 

importance. Parasitology Research 114(4): 1463–1472. 

Bennett, G.F. & Whitworth, T.L. (1992) Host, nest, and ecological relationships of 

species of Protocalliphora (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Canadian Journal of 

Zoology, 70(1): 51-61. 

Brisbane Insects website: Calliphoridae section: 

http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_muscoid/Calliphoridae.htm 

Chandler, P.J. (Ed.) (1998) Checklist of insects of the British Isles (new series) part 1: 

Diptera. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects 12. 234 pp. 

Chandler, P. & Denton, J. (2004) Recent records of some rare wetland snail-killing 

flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) from Berkshire. Dipterists Digest 11: 111-113. 

Clemons, L. (1998) Some personal records of Melinda (Dip.: Calliphoridae) from 

Kent. Entomologist's Record 10:131. 

Davies, L. (1987) The distribution in Scotland and Ireland of Calliphora uralensis and 

its occurence and separation from C. vicina (Insecta: Diptera). The Irish 

Naturalists' Journal 22: 241-244. 

Davies, L. (1990) Species composition and larval habitats of blowfly (Calliphoridae) 

populations in upland areas in England and Wales. Medical and Veterinary 

Entomology 4:1(1990): 61-68. 

Davies, L. (1999) Seasonal and spatial changes in blowfly production from small and 

large carcasses at Durham in lowland northeast England. Medical and Veterinary 

Entomology 13:3: 245-251. 

Davies L & Laurence BR 1972. The distribution of Calliphora species in Britain and 

Ireland (Dipt., Calliphoridae). Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 128: 207-213. 

Diptera.Info: Calliphoridae gallery: 

http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php?album_id=6 

Erzinçlioglu, Z. (1989) The orogin of parasitism in blowfliess. British Journal of 

Entomology and Natural History 2: 125-127. 

Erzinçlioglu, Z. (1996) Blowflies. Naturalists’ Handbooks 23. 71pp. Richmond 

Publishing. 

Fauna Europaea: Calliphoridae section: 

http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=10892 

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Calliphoridae section, checklist 

view: http://www.gbif.org/species/3335 

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Rhinophoridae section, checklist 

view: http://www.gbif.org/species/5589 

Heath, A.C.G, Marris J.W.M. & Harris, A.C. (2004) A cluster fly, Pollenia 

pseudorudis Rognes, 1985 (Diptera: Calliphoridae): Its history and pest status in 

New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 31:4: 313-318. (available online: 

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03014223.2004.9518384) 

Horsfield, D. (2001) Melinda gentilis Robineau-Desvoidy new to Scotland with notes 

on Melinda viridicyanea (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) in 

Scotland. Dipterists Digest 8: 133-134. 

Horsfield, D (2002). Calliphora stelviana (Brauer & Bergenstamm) (Dipt: 

Calliphoridae) in Scotland. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 138: 117-118. 

69


Huijbregts, H. (2002) Nederlandse bromvliegen (Diptera: Calliphoridae) 

Entomologische Berichten 62 (3-4): 82-89. (availbale online: 

http://www.nev.nl/pages/publicaties/eb/nummers/2002/62-3-4/82-89.pdf) 

Irwin, A. G. (1976) Calliphora uralensis (Villeneuve) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) new to 

Ireland. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 111 (1975): 62. 

Jewiss-Gaines, A, Marshall, S.A. & Whitworth, T.L. (2012). Cluster Flies 

(Calliphoridae: Polleniinae: Pollenia) of North America. Canadian Journal of 

Arthropod Identification 19: 119. 

Knut Rognes publication list: https://knutrognes.wordpress.com/publications-inzoology/ 

(hyperlinks to various key papers) 

Laurence, B.R. (1991). Calliphora uralensis Vill. (Dipt., Calliphoridae) in the 

Northern Isles. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 127: 139-143. 

Lehrer, A.Z. (2007) La fausse théorie de Rognes sur la position systématique du genre 

Eurychaeta B.B. et établissement d'une nouvelle espèce asiatique (Diptera: 

Sarcophagidae). Fragmenta Diperologica 10: 8-12. (available online: 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Rognes_-_Eurychaeta.pdf) 

Macdonald, M. (2014). Observation of Calliphora uralensis Villeneuve (Diptera, 

Calliphoridae) in Scotland. Dipterists Digest 21: 197-200. 

Marshall, S. A., Whitworth, T. & Roscoe, L. (2011) Blow flies (Diptera; 

Calliphoridae) of eastern Canada with a key to Calliphoridae subfamilies and 

genera of eastern North America, and a key to the eastern Canadian species of 

Calliphorinae, Luciliinae and Chrysomyiinae. Canadian Journal of Arthropod 

Identification. (available online: 

http://cjai.biologicalsurvey.ca/mwr_11/mwr_11.pdf) 

Mihályi, F. (1977). A new key for Hungarian Lucilia species (Diptera, Calliphoridae). 

Annales Historico-Naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarica 69: 181-184 (available 

online: 

http://publication.nhmus.hu/pdf/annHNHM/Annals_HNHM_1977_Vol_69_181.p 

df) 

National Biodiversity Network (NBN), Calliphoridae section: 

https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NBNSYS0000159565 

National Biodiversity Network (NBN), Rhinophoridae section: 

https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NBNSYS0000160889 

PBase photo gallery (Tom Murray's images from New England & New York), 

Calliphoridae gallery: http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/blow_flies_calliphoridae 

Perry, I. (2006) The Jenkinson records of Stomorhina lunata (Fabricius, 1805) 

(Diptera, Calliphoridae) Dipterists Digest 13:132. 

Pont, A.C. (1976) In: Kloet, G.S. & Hincks, W.D. (eds) A checklist of British Insects, 

Diptera and Siphanoptera. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects 11 

part 5. 139 pp. 

Povolný, D. & Verves, Y. (1997) The Flesh-Flies of Central Europe: Insecta, Diptera, 

Sarcophagidae. Spixiana: Zeitschrift für Zoologie, Supplement 24. 264 pp. 

Richards, O.W. (1926) Notes on the British Species of Lucilia (Diptera) With a 

Supplementary Note by J.E. Collin. Transaction of the Entomological Society of 

London 74: 255-263. 

Rognes, K. (1986) The systematic position of the genus Helicosbosca Bezzi with a 

discussion of the monophyly of the calypterate families Calliphoridae, 

Rhinophoridae, Sarcophagidae and Tachinidae (Diptera). Entomologica 

Scandinavica: 17: 75-92. 

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Rognes, K. (1991) Blowflies (Diptera, Calliphoridae) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. 

– Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica, Vol. 24. E. Brill, Leiden. (1991). 272pp. 

(sections available online, search using genera) 

Rognes, K. (1997) The Calliphoridae (Blowflies) (Diptera: Oestroidea) are Not a 

Monophyletic Group. Cladistics 13: 27-66. 

Rognes, K. (undated) Norwegian Calliphoridae web feature (Store Norske Leksikon): 

https://snl.no/spyfluer/ 

Rotheray, G.E., Horsfield, D, Ismay, J.E., Chandler, P.J. Bellardia bayeri (Diptera: 

Calliphoridae) new to Britain and a description of the puparium. Dipterists Digest 

5, 30-33. 

Shewell, G.E. (1987) 106 Calliphoridae, pp 1133-1145 In: MacAlpine, J.F. et. al. 

(eds) Manual of Nearctic Diptera 2. Reasearch Branch Agriculture Canada, 

Monograph 28. vi + pp 675-1332. Ottowa. 

Steven Falk Flickr photo gallery: Calliphoridae section: 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/collections/72157658686275806/ 

Stevens, J. & Wall, R. (1996) Species, sub-species and hybrid populations of the 

blowflies Lucilia cuprina and Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae). 

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 263: 1335-1342. 

Szpila, K. (undated) Key for identification of European and Mediterranean blowflies 

(Diptera, Calliphoridae) of forensic importance. Adult flies. Nicolaus Copernicus 

University. (available online but Norton untested) 

Szpila, K. (2010) Key for the Identification of Third Instars of European Blowflies 

(Diptera: Calliphoridae) of Forensic Importance. In: Amendt et al. (eds) Current 

concepts in forensic entomology. Springer. (available online: 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226946269_Key_for_the_Identification 

_of_Third_Instars_of_European_Blowflies_Diptera_Calliphoridae_of_Forensic_I 

mportance) 

Systema Dipterorum website: http://www.diptera.org/ClassificationNotes.php 

Van Emden, F.I. (1954) Diptera Cyclorrhapha Calyptrata (I) section (a). Tachinidae 

and Calliphoridae. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. Vol. X part 

(4a). 133 pp. 

Wainwright, C.J. (1949) Stomorhina lunata Fabr. (Diptera) in Britain. Journal of the 

Entomological Society of Britain, 3: 97-98. 

Whitworth, T. 2006. Keys to the Genera and Species of the Blow Flies (Diptera: 

Calliphoridae) of America North of Mexico. Proceedings of the Entomological 

Society of Washington 108(3), 699-708) (available online: 

http://www.blowflies.net/images/Publications/Keys.pdf) 

Zumft, F. (1956): Calliphoridae In: Lindner, E. (ed.) : Die Fliegender 

Palaearktischen Region, Stuttgart, 11: 1-140. 

71


RHINOPHORIDAE – WOODLOUSE-FLIES 

A small family of about 150-250 described species (depending on how the family is 

defined) found in most parts of the world. There are affinities to both the 

Calliphoridae and Tachinidae and it has been included in both at various points prior 

to it becoming recognised as a distinct and probably monophylitic family (Crosskey, 

1977). As well as historic changes to the ranking of the family, the boundaries have 

always been unstable and van Emden (1954) included the calliphorid genera 

Angioneura and Melanomya and the tachinid genera Cinochira and Litophasia. The 

first two genera were still listed as rhinophorids in the 1976 British checklist (Pont, 

1976). Today, there remains disagreement over whether the Australian genus Axinia 

should be included or placed within its own family, the Axiniidae. 

The British fauna was subject of a classic PhD study by Bedding (1965 - summarised 

in Bedding, 1973) which examined thousands of woodlice collected from some 50 

localities in southern England and reared most of the British species. Where the 

biology is known, it involves endoparasitism of woodlice. 

Key to rhinophorid species 

1 R5 either without a stalk or with a short one that is shorter than cross vein r-m 

(Figs 1 & 2)……………………………………...............................…………...…2 

- R5 with a stalk that is much longer than cross-vein r-m (Figs 3 & 4)…….......…..4 

2 Femora and tibiae partially reddish. Scutellum yellowish apically with only a 

single pair of strong marginal bristles in addition to the strong, crossed apicals 

(Fig 5). Vein M usually ending on the wing margin leaving the radial cell 

narrowly open (Fig 1). Male sternite 5 produced into two large projecting, 

partially orange lobes Fig 6), the sides of tergite 1+2 & 3 

orange…...............................................................................…Tricogena rubricosa 

- Legs black, at most narrowly orange at the knee joints. Scutellum with 2-3 strong 

marginals in addition to the strong, crossed apicals, the tip never orange. Vein M 

usually joining the end of vein R4+5 leaving a short stalk (Fig 2). Mesonotum and 

scutellum not so strongly dusted...........................……………….......................…3 

3 Tergites 3 and 4 with some strong discals as well as marginals (Fig 7). 

Mesonotum with three broad black stripes, the middle ‘acrostichal stripe’ fairly 

solid in top view and separated from the lateral ones by broad pale grey stripes 

aligned with the dorsocentrals (Fig 9). Palpi orange-brown. Male with strong 

marginals on tergite 1+2 and frons nearly one-third head width (Fig 

11)...........................................................................................Phyto melanocephala 

- Tergites 3 and 4 without discals, only marginals (Fig 8). Mesonotum with three 

narrow black stripes down the middle (the middle one weak from some angles), 

separated from the lateral black patches by less conspicuous pale grey stripes 

aligned with the dorsocentrals. Palpi blackish. Male without marginals on tergite 1 

and frons only about one-tenth head width (Fig 10).................….Phyto discrepans 

4 Parafacialia bare (Fig 11). Apical half of wing, especially fore section and 

membrane around the other veins, conspicuously darkenened and contrasting with 

the milky-white membrane and yellow veins of the basal half (this character can 

be poorly expressed in teneral specimens). Third antennal segment conspicuously 

orange on basal half..……….......................................….......…Paykullia maculata 

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- Parafacialia with hairs, bristles or both (Figs 12 & 13). Wings either relatively 

clear, or entirely darkened, or darkened with a conspicuously milky-white wing 

tip. Third antennal segment dark..............................................................................5 

5 Halteres with dark knobs. Body shining black without any obvious pale dusting. 

Wings conspicuously darkened, entirely in male but with a milky white apical 

spot in female (Fig 3); the stalk of R4+5 longer then the upturned section of M. 

Small species (wing length to 3.5 mm)……...............…….…Melanophora roralis 

- Halteres with yellow knobs. Body with at least the parafacialia and genae with 

pale dusted. Wings not conspicuously darkened; the stalk of R4+5 clearly shorter 

than than the upturned section of M (Fig 4)...……………........................………..6 

6 In side view, mouth edge projecting beyond the level of the frons (Fig 12). 

Tergites 3 and 4 without discals. Mesonotum without pale dust stripes. Small 

species (wing length to 4 mm)………….......................…….....Rhinophora lepida 

- In side view, frons projecting much further than the mouthedge (Fig 13). Tergites 

3 and 4 with discals. Mesonotum with pale dust stripes. Typically larger (wing 

length to 6 mm)……………................................................................……………7 

7 Palpi and antennae completely dark. A darker species with thorax, tergites and 

occiput rather inconspicuously dusted. Male tergite 3 without orange patches at 

sides. Female femora black to tip…….…...….……….……Stevenia atramentaria 

- Palpi and tip of second antennal segment reddish. Thorax, tergites and occiput 

conspicuously dusted. Male tergite 3 with orange marks at sides basally. Female 

femora usually reddish at tip, especially below…................….Stevenia deceptoria 

Melanophora roralis (Linnaeus, 1758) 

Smoky-winged Woodlouse-fly 

Description & similar species WL 3-3.5mm. A small, shiny black species with 

smoky wings – entirely so in males but with a milky-white apical spots in females that 

73


can be very conspicuous against a dark background, making for a very distinctive 

insect. The venation is also unusual with the stalk of R4+5 longer than the upturned 

section of M, and cell R4+5 unusually narrow and small for a calypterate. The 

similar-sized Catharosia pygmaea (Tachinidae) has a very similar venation and also a 

milky white wing tip, though the wing is darker at the front than the rear, and it also 

has a broader, shorter-legged build and an obvious subscutellum. The male frons of 

M. roralis is about two-fifths the width of the head, the female frons nearly one-half. 

Variation A little size variation. The intensity of wing darkening varies and can be 

less evident in teneral individuals. 

Flight season Mid-May to September. 

Habitat & biology This is our most synanthropic rhinophorid and used to be fairly 

frequent in houses and gardens. However, it can also occur well away from 

settlements along upper shores, soft rock cliffs and in woods associated with dead 

wood and old trees. Hosts include Porcellio scaber (especially those under loose 

bark) and P. spinicornis in a dry stone wall (Irwin, 1985). Further hosts have been 

used under laboratory conditions (Sassaman & Pratt, 1992). Adults have been 

observed vibrating their wings when walking. It does not seem to visit flowers. 

Status & distribution Scattered records as far north as the Edinburgh area. It is the 

only rhinophorid to have shown a substantial decline, and is now rare in houses – no 

doubt linked to the reduced abundance of woodlice here due to central heating and 

modern building techniques. 

Melanophora roralis male (left, Photo: Patrick Derennes) and female (right, Photo: Pierre Duhem). 

Only the female has a white wing tip but the male's broad frons makes it look like a female. 

Paykullia maculata (Fallén, 1815) 

Picture-winged Woodlouse-fly 

Description & similar species WL 4.5-6mm. A shiny-black species with distinctive 

dark markings in the apical half of the wing, which combined with the long-stalked 

R4+5 make for an easily distinguished species. The male frons is about one-quarter 

the width of the head, the female frons about one-third. 

Variation Substantial size variation. Teneral individuals lack conspicuous wing 

markings and can be confused with Stevenia species but the orange bases to the third 

antennal segments and bare parafacialia of P. maculata allow easy separation. 

Flight season Mid-June to early October. 

74


Habitat & biology Our most shade- and tree-loving rhinophorid. It can be 

encountered in woodland, scrub, hedges and gardens. Recorded hosts include 

Porcellio scaber (particularly those beneath loose bark) and Oniscus asellus. Adults 

have been observed running up tree trunks waving their wings in a similar manner to 

the Dipogon spider-wasps (which also have shiny-black bodies and marked wings). 

They will visit flowers of umbellifers such as Angelica and Wild Parsnip. 

Status & distribution Widespread with records extending as far north as the 

Cromarty Firth area of Scotland. Once regarded as rare though it is probably 

overlooked. Bedding (1965) regarded it as the commonest parasite of P. scaber. 

Paykullia maculata pinned male (left) and living female (right, Photo: Jeremy Richardson) - showing 

the distinctive wing markings 

Phyto discrepans Pandellé, 1896 

Five-striped Woodlouse-fly 

Description & similar species WL 4-6mm. A medium-sized rhinophorid with a very 

short stalk to R4+5 and three narrow stripes down the ‘acrostichal midline’ of the 

mesonotum at the front (the middle one less obvious from some angles) which are 

separated by broad pale stripes of varying intensity from the dark lateral stripes. The 

mesonotum thus lacks the bold striping of P. melanocephala. Tergite 1+2 lacks 

marginals (present in male P. melanocephala) and tergites 3 and 4 lack discals 

(present in both sexes of P. melanocephala. The male frons is only about one-tenth 

the width of the frons, the female frons about one-third. The palpi are blackish 

(orange-brown in P. melanocephala). Eggisops pecchiolii (Calliphoridae) looks rather 

similar but has cell R4+5 narrowly open, plumose aristae and lower calypters hugging 

the edge of the scutellum. 

Variation Moderate size variation. The markings on the mesonotum can vary in 

intensity. 


Habitat & biology Found in a variety of habitats including coastal grassland and 

heathland, brownfield sites, woodland rides and clearings, and occasionally gardens. 

Adults have been recorded visiting the flowers of umbellifers such as Rock Samphire, 

Hogweed and Wild carrot; also Rosebay Willowherb. Recorded hosts include 

Porcellio scaber (especially those under loose bark) and Oniscus asellus. 

Status & distribution Scarce and localised with records extending north to Cumbria 

(check). 

75


Phyto discrepans male (left) and female (right). Photos: Jeremy Richardson. 

Phyto melanocephala (Meigen, 1824) 

Three-striped Woodlouse-fly 

Description & similar species WL 3.5-7.5 (typically 5-6mm). The very short stalk to 

R4+5 combined with the boldly striped mesonotum (three broad dark stripes 

separated by two broad grey stripes) make this a fairly easily-recognised rhinophorid, 

and further differences from P. discrepans are given in the key. The male frons is 

about one-quarter the width of the head, the female frons about one-third. 

Variation Substantial size variation. Big individuals qualify as our largest 

rhinophorids but the smallest are no larger than a typical Rhinophora lepida. Vein M 

occasionally meets vein R4+5 on the wing margin, leaving the latter without a stalk. 

Flight season Late April into October, presumably as two or more generations. 

Habitat & biology A clear preference is shown for warm, open sites with short or 

sparse vegetation. Particularly strong populations can form on brownfield land and 

coastal shingle, and it will also use chalk downland, coastal dunes, saltmarsh edge, 

sea walls, gardens and woodland clearings. Adults visit flowers such as umbellifers, 

Yarrow, Sea-kale, Sea Mayweed and Elder. They will also bask on tree trunks. 

Recorded hosts include Armadillidium vulgare and Porcellio scaber. 

Status & distribution Widespread and frequent (sometimes common) in southern 

Britain with records extending as far north as Yorkshire. 

Phyto melanocephala male (left) and female (right) 

76


Rhinophora lepida (Meigen, 1824) 

Pouting Woodlouse-fly 

Description & similar species WL 2.5-4mm. A small blackish species vying with 

Melanophora roralis for the title as our smallest rhinophorid, and the smallest 

individuals probably are. Easily distinguished from other rhinophorids and most other 

calypterates by the combination of the projecting upper mouth edge, the long stalk to 

R4+5 and the yellow halteres. Both sexes have the lower parafrontalia, parafacialia 

and gena silvery-white. The back of the head and sides of the thorax (including the 

humeri and notopleuri) are grey-dusted. The male additionally has conspicuous grey 

dust patches at the front corners of tergites 3 and 4, though this feature is much 

weaker in females. The male frons is about one-quarter the width of the head, with a 

matt black interfontalia that is about the same width as the silvery parafrontalia on 

either side. The female frons is about one-third the width, with the interfrontalia 

narrower than the parafrontalia. R. lepida often occurs alongside the superficially 

similar Melanomya nana (Calliphoridae) in the field, but the different venation and 

face profile will quickly separate the two even under a hand lens. 


Flight season Late June into September. 

Habitat & biology Found in a wide variety of warm, flowery habitats, including dry 

grasslands, the drier parts of wetlands, assorted coastal habitats, brownfield sites, 

heathland edge, arable margins and larger rides and clearings of woods. Adults like to 

visit flowers such as mayweeds, chamomiles, Oxeye Daisy, Tansy and umbellifers 

such as Wild Carrot, Fennel and Hogweed. Porcellio scaber seems to be the main 

host. 

Status & distribution Widespread and locally common in the southern half of 

lowland Britain extending north to Fife. 

Rhinophora lepida male (left) and female (right) 

Stevenia atramentaria (Meigen, 1824) 

Black Woodlouse-fly 

Description & similar species WL 5-6mm. A shiny black species with a long stalk 

on R4+5 and two pale grey ‘dorsocentral’ dust stripes on the front of the mesonotum 

separated by a black ‘acrostichal’ stripe of similar width (best seen from behind). 

Tergites 3 and 4 have inconspicuous dusting at the basal corners. The palpi, antennae 

and legs are entirely dark and the arista long-pubescent. Males lack any red patches 

77


on the side of tergite 3 and have a particularly slim build. The male frons is about onefifth 

the width of the head, the female frons about one-third. 

Variation Moderate size variation. The wing can have the fore margin somewhat 

darkened but not conspicuously so. 


Habitat & biology British records include field margins, damp grassland, brownfield 

sites and clearings in damp woodland. Recorded hosts include Oniscus asellus and 

Trachelipus rathkei. It will visit flowers such as umbellifers. 

Status & distribution Scarce and localised in southern England north to 

Cambridgeshire. 

Stevenia atramentaria male (Photo: Jeremy Richardson) and pinned female (right) 

Stevenia deceptoria (Loew, 1847) 

Grizzled Woodlouse-fly 

Description & similar species WL 4-6mm. A medium-sized rhinophorid, the most 

heavily dusted of the species with a long stalk on R4+5. Easily separable from S. 

atramentaria by reddish palpi and tip of the second antennal segment and heavily 

dusted thorax, tergites and occiput. Males have orange patches at the sides of tergite 3 

basally. The male frons is about one-quarter the width of the head, that of the female 

nearer one-third. Females usually have the tip of the femora broadly reddish, 

especially below. 

Variation Substantial size variation. The length of the stalk on R4+5 varies from 

almost as long as the upturned section of M in some to only about as half as long in 

others. The wing membrane varies from fairly clear to slightly darkened along the 

fore margin and alongside the veins, but is never darkened to the extent of Paykullia 

maculata, and never with a milky-white basal section with yellow veins. In males, the 

extent of red at the side of tergite 3 varies somewhat. In females, the extent of red on 

the tip of the femora varies and in some females the femora are black virtually to the 

tip. 

Flight season Late May to mid-August. 

Habitat & biology The Kent sites are mainly chalk grassland plus one damp 

meadow. The Tide Mills site is vegetated shingle with scattered bramble, scrub 

grassland and tall herb. Adults visit the flowers of umbellifers such as Wild Carrot 

and also like to bask on bramble foliage. The host woodlouse does not seem to be 

known. 

Status & distribution Recently added to the British list from several sites in Kent 

(Clemons, 2006), the oldest record coming from 2000. A very strong population was 

78


then discovered at Tide Mills, Sussex in 2010, and it can be adundant here throughout 

summer. Considered a recent colonist in Britain capable of exploiting woodlice on 

boats or cargo. It was recently added to the South American list (Mulieri et. al., 2010). 

A number of very similar species occur on the continent. 

Stevenia deceptoria male (left) and female (right) 

Tricogena rubricosa (Meigen, 1824) 

Red-shinned Woodlouse-fly 

Description & similar species WL 3-4mm. A smallish, heavily-dusted species that is 

abundantly distinct from other rhinophorids through its rather stocky build, wing 

venation (with cell R4+5 usually narrowly open), yellow-tipped scutellum, and 

partially red legs (more extensively so in females than males). Males have the sides of 

tergites 1+2 and 3 reddish, and large, projecting lobes arising from sternite 5 which 

make the tip of the abdomen appear swollen. Both sexes have the frons about onethird 

the width of the head, that of the female slightly broader and with the 

parafacialia slightly wider. Females have the second antennal segment reddish but in 

males it is mostly dark. More likely to be confused with a small tachinid than other 

rhinophorids in the field. 

Variation The tibiae are variably darkened basally and the extent of red varies on the 

femora. Moderate size variation. 

Flight season Late May into September. 

Tricogena rubricosa male (left, Photo: Dick Belgers) and female (right, Photo: P. Walter). Notice the 

orange tip to the scutellum of both sexes and the protruding lobe of sternite 5 in the male. 

79


Habitat & biology Found in a variety of open grassy habitats, including heathland, 

chalk downland, acid grassland, marshy grassland, coastal dunes, brownfield sites and 

larger rides and clearings of woods. No flower visits noted. Reared from Porcellio 

scaber. 

Status & distribution Widespread but local over much of Britain with records 

extending north to Moray. 

80


References & further reading (Rhinophoridae) 

Bedding, R.A. (1965) Parasitism of British Terrestrial Isopoda by Diptera. 

Unpublished Ph.D. thesis. Imperial Cololege fo Science and Technology. London. 

234 pp. 

Bedding, R.A. (1973) The immature stages of Rhinophorinae (Diptera: Calliphoridae) 

that parasitise British woodlice. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society 

of London 125: 27-44. 

Clemons, L. (2001) The woodlouse flies (Diptera: Rhinophoridae) of Kent. 

Transactions of the Kent Field Club 15(3): 151-169. 

Clemons, L. (2006) Stevenia deceptoria (Loew, 1847) (Diptera, Rhinophoridae) new 

to Britain. Dipterists Digest 13: 119-122. 

Clemons, L. (2010) Progress with recording the Woodlouse flies (Diptera, 

Rhinophoridae) of Watsonian Kent. Newsletter of the Kent Field Club 72: 4-16. 

(available online: 

http://www.kentfieldclub.org.uk/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view 

&gid=18&Itemid=16&limitstart=5) 

Cerretti, P. & Pape, T. (2007) Two new species of European Stevenia Robineau- 

Desvoidy (Diptera: Rhinophoridae) and a key to the Palaearctic species. Zootaxa 

1634: 31-41. 

Ceretti, P. & Pape, T. (2009). Phylogeny and re-definition of the genus Melanophora 

(Diptera: Rhinophoridae), with description of a new species from Sardinia. In: 

Cerretti P., Mason F., Minelli A., Nardi G. & Whitmore D. (eds). Research on the 

Terrestrial Arthropods of Sardinia. Zootaxa 2318: 552–565. 

Chandler, P.J. (Ed.) (1998) Checklist of insects of the British Isles (new series) part 1: 

Diptera. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects 12. 234 pp. 

Crosskey, R.W. (1977) A review of Rhinophoridae (Diptera) and a revision of the 

Afrotropical species. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History 

(Entomology) 36: 1-66. 

Diptera.Info: Rhinophoridae gallery: 

http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php?album_id=69 

Falk, S.J. (1993) Paykullia maculata (Fallén) (Dipt: Rhinophoridae) – not so rare and 

probably mimetic. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 129: 203-204. 

Herting, B. 1961. 64e. Rhinophorinae. - ln: Lindner, E. (ed.), Die Fliegen der 

Palaearktischen Region 9 (Lieferung 216): I - 36. 

Herting, B. (1993) Family Rhinophoridae, In Soós, Á. & Papp, L (eds.) Catalogue of 

Palaearctic Diptera 13: 102-117. 

Horsfield, D. (2015) Scottish records of Rhinophora lepida (Meigen) (Diptera; 

Rhinophoridae). Dipterists Digest 23: 68. 

Irwin, A.G. (1985) First record of Rhinophoridae (Dipt.) in Porcellio spinicornis Say 

(Isopoda, Porcellionidae). Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 121: 38. 

Mulieri, P.R., Patitucci, L.D., Mariluis, J.C. & Thomas, T. (2010). Long-distance 

introduction: first New World record of Stevenia deceptoria (Loew) and a key to 

the genera of New World Rhinophoridae (Diptera). Zootaxa. 2524: 66–68. 

Nash, R. (1985) the Irish species of Rhinophoridae (Diptera). Irish Naturalists’ 

Journal 21: 463-464. 

Pont, A.C. (1976) In: Kloet, G.S. & Hincks, W.D. A checklist of British Insects, 

Diptera and Siphanoptera. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects 11 

part 5. 139 pp. 

81


Rognes, K. (1986) The Rhinophoridae or woodlouse-flies (Diptera) of Norway. 

Fauna Norvegica. Series B. 33: 64-68. (available online: 

http://www.entomologi.no/journals/nje/old/V33/NJE_33_02_1986.pdf) 

Sassaman, C. & Pratt, G. (1992) Melanophora roralis (L.) (Diptera: Rhinophoridae), 

a parasite of isopod crustaceans, in laboratory culture. The Entomologist 111 (4): 

178-186. 

Smith, K.G.V. (1992) How rare is Paykullia maculata (Fallén) 

(Dipt.,Rhinophoridae)? Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 128: 46. 

Steven Falk Flickr: Rhinophoridae section: 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/collections/72157629345084836/ 

Van Emden, F.I. (1954) Diptera Cyclorrhapha Calyptrata (I) section (a). Tachinidae 

and Calliphoridae. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. Vol. X part 

(4a). 133 pp. 

Wood, D.M. (1987) 109 Rhinophoridae, pp 1187-1191 In: MacAlpine, J.F. et. al. 

(eds) Manual of Nearctic Diptera 2. Reasearch Branch Agriculture Canada, 

Monograph 28. vi + pp 675-1332. Ottowa. 

Zeegers T. & Veen M. Van (1993) Pissebedvliegen (Rhinophoridae) in Nederland: 

een voorlopig overzicht. De Vliegenmepper 2(2): 1-10. 

82


Checklist and classification of British species 

CALLIPHORIDAE 

BLOWFLIES 

CALLIPHORINAE 

Bellardia bayeri (Jacentkowský, 1937) 

Bayer’s Emerald-bottle 

Bellardia pandia (Walker, 1849) 

Bisetose Emerald-bottle 

Bellardia pubicornis (Zetterstedt, 1838) 

Northern Bellardia 

Bellardia viarum (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) Dark-veined Emerald-bottle 

Bellardia vulgaris (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) Pale-veined Emerald-bottle 

Calliphora loewi Enderlein, 1903 

Long-horned Bluebottle 

Calliphora stelviana (Brauer & von Bergenstamm, 1891) Little Bluebottle 

Calliphora subalpina (Ringdahl, 1931) 

Woodland Bluebottle 

Calliphora uralensis Villeneuve, 1922 

Seabird Bluebottle 

Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 Common Bluebottle 

Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus, 1758) 

Orange-bearded Bluebottle 

Cynomya mortuorum (Linnaeus, 1761) 

Yellow-faced Blowfly 

CHRYSOMYIINAE 

Phormia regina (Meigen, 1826) 

Black Blowfly 

Protocalliphora azurea (Fallén, 1817) 

Bird Blowfly 

Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) Blackbottle 

HELICOBOSCINAE 

Eurychaeta palpalis (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) 

LUCILIINAE 

Lucilia ampullacea Villeneuve, 1922 

Lucilia bufonivora Moniez, 1876 

Lucilia caesar (Linnaeus, 1758) 

Lucilia illustris (Meigen, 1826) 

Lucilia richardsi Collin in Richards, 1926 

Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) 

Lucilia silvarum (Meigen, 1826) 

False fleshfly 

Streakless Greenbottle 

Toad Greenbottle 

Common Greenbottle 

Illustrious Greenbottle 

Richards’ Greenbottle 

Sheep-strike Greenbottle 

Marsh Greenbottle 

MELANOMYINAE 

Angioneura acerba (Meigen, 1838) 

Pale Least Blowfly 

Angioneura cyrtoneurina (Zetterstedt, 1859) Dark Least Blowfly 

Eggisops pecchiolii Rondani, 1862 

False Woodlouse-fly 

Melanomya nana (Meigen, 1826) 

Little Black Blowfly 

Melinda gentilis Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 Pale-palped Melinda 

Melinda viridicyanea (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) Dark-palped Melinda 

POLLENIINAE 

Pollenia amentaria (Scopoli, 1763) 

Pollenia angustigena Wainwright, 1940 

Pollenia griseotomentosa (Jacentkowský, 1944) 

Pollenia labialis Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863 

Pollenia pediculata Macquart, 1834) 

Black-bellied Clusterfly 

Narrow-cheeked Clusterfly 

Little Clusterfly 

Dark-based Clusterfly 

Tufted Clusterfly 

83


Pollenia rudis (Fabricius, 1794) 

Pollenia vagabunda (Meigen, 1826) 

Pollenia viatica Robineau-Desvoidy, 1944 

RHINIINAE 

Stomorhina lunata (Fabricius, 1805) 

Awkward Clusterfly 

Vagabund Clusterfly 

Orange-palped Clusterfly 

Locust Blowfly 

RHINOPHORIDAE 

Melanophora roralis (Linnaeus, 1758) 

Paykullia maculata (Fallén, 1815) 

Phyto discrepans Pandellé, 1896 

Phyto melanocephala (Meigen, 1824) 

Rhinophora lepida (Meigen, 1824) 

Stevenia atramentaria (Meigen, 1824) 

Stevenia deceptoria (Loew, 1847) 

Tricogena rubricosa (Meigen, 1824) 

WOODLOUSE-FLIES 

Smoky-winged Woodlouse-fly 

Picture-winged Woodlouse-fly 

Five-striped Woodlouse-fly 

Three-striped Woodlouse-fly 

Pouting Woodlouse-fly 

Black Woodlouse-fly 

Grizzled Woodlouse-fly 

Red-shinned Woodlouse-fly 

Name change navigator 

Black - Calliphoridae (Rhinophorinae*) (Sarcophaginae*) 

Red - Rhinophoridae 

Blue - Sarcophagidae 

Brown - Oestridae 

Green - Tachinidae 

Van Emden (1954) Kloet & Hincks Chandler (1998) NBN (2016) 

(1976) 

n/a Angioneura acerba Angioneura acerba Angioneura acerba 

Angioneurilla 

cyrtoneurina* 

Angioneura 

cyrtoneurina 

Angioneura 

cyrtoneurina 

Angioneura 

cyrtoneurina 

n/a n/a Bellardia bayeri Bellardia bayeri 

Onesia biseta Bellardia biseta Bellardia pandia Bellardia pandia 

Pseudonesia puberula Pseudonesia puberula Bellardia pubicornis Bellardia pubicornis 

Onesia aculeata Bellardia pusilla Bellardia viarum Bellardia viarum 

Onesia agilis Bellardia agilis Bellardia vulgaris Bellardia vulgaris 

Calliphora loewi Calliphora loewi Calliphora loewi Calliphora loewi 

Acrophaga alpina Calliphora alpina Calliphora stelviana Calliphora stelviana 

Acrophaga subalpina Calliphora subalpina Calliphora subalpina Calliphora subalpina 

Calliphora uralensis Calliphora uralensis Calliphora uralensis Calliphora uralensis 

Calliphora 

Calliphora vicina Calliphora vicina Calliphora vicina 

erythrocephala 

Calliphora vomitoria Calliphora vomitoria Calliphora vomitoria Calliphora vomitoria 

Cynomya mortuorum Cynomya mortuorum Cynomya mortuorum Cynomya mortuorum 

Eggisops pecchiolii Eggisops pecchiolii Eggisops pecchiolii Eggisops pecchiolii 

Helicobosca 

Helicobosca 

Eurychaeta palpalis Eurychaeta palpalis 

distinguenda* distinguenda 

Lucilia ampullacea Lucilia ampullacea Lucilia ampullacea Lucilia ampullacea 

Lucilia bufonivora Lucilia bufonivora Lucilia bufonivora Lucilia bufonivora 

Lucilia caesar Lucilia caesar Lucilia caesar Lucilia caesar 

Lucilia illustris Lucilia illustris Lucilia illustris Lucilia illustris 

Lucilia richardsi Lucilia richardsi Lucilia richardsi Lucilia richardsi 

Lucilia sericata Lucilia sericata Lucilia sericata Lucilia sericata 

84


Lucilia silvarum Lucilia silvarum Lucilia silvarum Lucilia silvarum 

Morinia nana* Melanomya nana Melanomya nana Melanomya nana 

Melinda anthracina Melinda gentilis Melinda gentilis Melinda gentilis 

Melinda caerulea Bellardia cognata Melinda viridicyanea Melinda viridicyanea 

Phormia regina Phormia regina Phormia regina Phormia regina 

Pollenia vespillo Pollenia vespillo Pollenia amentaria Pollenia amentaria 

Pollenia rudis f. Pollenia rudis f. Pollenia angustigena Pollenia angustigena 

angustigena 

angustigena 

Pollenia varia Pollenia varia Pollenia 

griseotomentosa 

Pollenia 

griseotomentosa 

Pollenia excarinata Pollenia intermedia Pollenia labialis Pollenia labialis 

n/a n/a Pollenia pediculata Pollenia pediculata 

Pollenia rudis rudis Pollenia rudis rudis Pollenia rudis Pollenia rudis 

Pollenia vagabunda Pollenia vagabunda Pollenia vagabunda Pollenia vagabunda 

Pollenia carinata Pollenia pallida Pollenia viatica Pollenia viatica 

Protocalliphora Protocalliphora Protocalliphora Protocalliphora azurea 

sordida 

azurea 

azurea 

Protocalliphora Protocalliphora Non-British 

Non-British 

sordida 

sordida 

Phormia terrae-novae Phormia terraenovae Protophormia 

terraenovae 

Protophormia 

terraenovae 

Stomorhina lunata Stomorhina lunata Stomorhina lunata Stomorhina lunata 

Melanophora roralis* Melanophora roralis Melanophora roralis Melanophora roralis 

Parafeburia maculata* Paykullia maculata Paykullia maculata Paykullia maculata 

Styloneura discrepans* Phyto discrepans Phyto discrepans Phyto discrepans 

Phyto melanocephala* Phyto melanocephala Phyto melanocephala Phyto melanocephala 

Rhinophora lepida* Rhinophora lepida Rhinophora lepida Rhinophora lepida 

Stevenia atramentaria* Stevenia atramentaria Stevenia atramentaria Stevenia atramentaria 

n/a n/a n/a Stevenia deceptoria 

Stevenia umbratica* ?Stevenia umbratica Misident, Non-British Non-British 

Frauenfeldia 

Tricogena rubricosa Tricogena rubricosa Tricogena rubricosa 

rubricosa* 

Cephenemyia 

auribarbis 

Cephenemyia 

auribarbis 

Cephenemyia 

auribarbis 

Cephenemyia 

auribarbis 

Pharyngomyia picta Pharyngomyia picta Pharyngomyia picta Pharyngomyia picta 

Cinochira atra* Cinochira atra Cinochira atra Cinochira atra 

Litophasia 

hyalinipennis* 

Litophasia 

hyalinipennis 

Litophasia 

hyalinipennis 

Litophasia 

hyalinipennis 

Remaining 

Sarcophagidae* 

Sarcophagidae Sarcophagidae 

Its is also worth noting that Pollenia pediculata has been referred to as P. pseudorudis 

in some foreign literature. 

85


Acknowledgements 

In assembling this account I have been reminded of the various entomologists who 

have provided me with information, advice and specimens relating to calliphorids and 

rhinophorids over the years: John Bowden, Peter Chandler, Laurence Clemons, 

Jonathan Cole, Lewis Davies, Murdo Macdonald and Knut Rognes. I am also 

extremely grateful to Duncan Sivell (the Natural History Museum (NHM), London) 

and Darren Mann (Oxford University Museum) for allowing me to examine and 

borrow specimens from their collections. The gathering of nearly 40 dipterists at the 

Dipterists Forum/Field Studies Council calliphorid, sarcophagid and rhinophorid 

workshop at Preston Montford in February 2016 provided valuable feedback for the 

first draft, and I am grateful to all who attended and especially to Duncan Sivell for 

organising it. Mike Pugh very kindly proof read the final draft. 

Photo credits 

All photos are by the author unless stated. Many thanks to the other photographers 

who contributed images: 

Ian Andrews (Yorkshire) https://www.flickr.com/photos/52163027@N02/ 

Dick Belgers (Netherlands) 

http://www.nederlandsesoorten.nl/linnaeus_ng/app/views/search/nsr_search_pictu 

res.php?photographer=Dick 

Lars Brunkman (Sweden): http://www.bruphoto.com/ 

Patrick Derennes (France) 

Pierre Duhem 

Andreas Haselböck (Germany) http://www.naturspaziergang.de/ 

Nigel Jones (Shropshire) https://www.flickr.com/people/54028555@N00 

Marek Kozlowski (Poland) 

Yann Loscoat (France) 

Tom Murray (Massachusetts) http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74 

Hedy Van Prattenburg (Netherlands) 

Christophe Quintin (France) https://www.flickr.com/photos/34878947@N04/ 

Tim Ransom (Jersey) https://www.flickr.com/people/23111015@N04/ 

Chris Raper (NHM) 

Olga Retka (NHM) 

Jeremy Richardson (Hertfordshire) https://www.flickr.com/photos/124453649@N07/ 

Knut Rognes (Norway) https://knutrognes.wordpress.com/publications-in-zoology/ 

Roger Thomason (Shetland) https://www.flickr.com/photos/telefunken_u_47/ 

P. Walter (Hungary) - non-delivery message (Tricogena rubricosa male) 

Jan Zwaaneveld (Netherlands) https://www.flickr.com/photos/lekkervogelen/ 

86

BRITISH BLOWFLIES (CALLIPHORIDAE) AND WOODLOUSE FLIES (RHINOPHORIDAE)

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