Copper-Bottom Blow Fly vs Green Bottle Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Copper-Bottom Blow Fly Green Bottle Fly
Scientific Name Lucilia cuprina Lucilia sericata
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Calliphoridae Calliphoridae
Size 9-13 mm 10-14 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Carrion Feeders Carrion Feeders
Regions Australia, South Africa, Asia Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, Oceania
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.

Green Bottle Fly

A brilliant metallic green fly with large red compound eyes. Medically, its sterile larvae are used in maggot debridement therapy to clean necrotic wounds.

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Did You Know?

Medical-grade maggots of this species are approved by the FDA for wound treatment, as they eat only dead tissue and secrete natural antibiotics.