Copper-Bottom Blow Fly vs European Seedcorn Ground Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Copper-Bottom Blow Fly European Seedcorn Ground Beetle
Scientific Name Lucilia cuprina Zabrus tenebrioides
Order Diptera Coleoptera
Family Calliphoridae Carabidae
Size 9-13 mm 14-18 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Carrion Feeders Herbivores
Regions Australia, South Africa, Asia Europe, Central Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Copper-Bottom Blow Fly

A metallic green-gold blow fly that is the most destructive cause of sheep blowfly strike in Australia and South Africa. Females lay eggs in soiled wool, and larvae burrow into the skin, causing severe tissue destruction. It has developed resistance to multiple insecticides used for livestock protection.

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Did You Know?

Australia loses over 170 million dollars annually to sheep blowfly strike caused by this species.

European Seedcorn Ground Beetle

An unusual ground beetle that is herbivorous as an adult, feeding on cereal crops. Larvae are predatory and live in soil burrows.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the very few ground beetles that is a crop pest rather than a beneficial predator.