Calliphora vomitoria, (Linnaeus, 1758) Common names “Bluebottle fly” and “Bottle bee”
Length: 10mm to 14mm (slightly larger than a housefly)
Family: Calliphoridae.
Flight season: Mainly April to October.
Calliphora vomitoria is a common and widespread fly in England and Wales.
Habitat: Anywhere carrion is found, the larvae can be found in decaying organic material.
The female, lays her eggs from where she feeds. This can be on rotting meat, faeces, and anywhere food is left to decay (rubbish bins etc.) Within a day or two the larvae emerge, they are a milky white in colour and are commonly known as “maggots”. The maggots immediately begin feeding for a few days. When they have finished eating, the maggots will crawl away and start to burrow into a dry place to pupate; usually in soil or a similar material. After two to three weeks, the adult flies begin to emerge from the hard-cased cocoons. Then they will promptly start to mate, completing the Calliphora vomitoria life cycle. (egg, larva, pupa, and adult fly).
During cold spells or when the winter weather begins, pupae and adults can hibernate until warmer temperatures return.
An individual fly can produce chemicals known as “Pheromones” this is usually when a change of behaviour happens, for example: when discovering a food source. This can then attract other flies to the same food source. This is one reason when swarms of Calliphora vomitoria are seen.
Adult Blue bottles feed on nectar and are effective pollinators of flowers, especially those flowers giving a strong odour; resembling rotten meat.