Calliphora livida
Encyclopedia
Calliphora livida is a member of the family Calliphoridae, the blow flies. This large family includes the genus Calliphora
, the "blue bottle flies". This genus is important in the field of forensic entomology
because of its value in post-mortem interval estimation.
, was first discovered by Jean-Baptiste Robineau-Desvoidy
who originally thought C. livida was part of the species Calliphora viridescens. Robineau-Desvoidy described C. viridescens in 1830, but it was not until 1948 that C. livida was described as a separate species; in 1948, D. G. Hall introduced one of the first textbooks of entomology
, where he described a number of new species including C. livida. C. livida is also very similar to the species C. coloradensis, which when suffering from teneral has similar genal dilation.
species also have an optimal growth temperature from 18–30 °C (64.4–86 F).
The egg stage is followed by the larval stage. Calliphorid flies have three larva
l instars lasting 421 days in all. Larvae in the genus Calliphora can be characterized by being round in cross section, slightly raised posterior spiracles which are surrounded by 10 or more tubercles, complete peritremes, and an accessory oral sclerite. C. vicina
, a close relative to C. livida, has larval growth estimated to be at 4–30 °C (39.2–86 F). The minimum developmental temperature is approximately 1 °C (33.8 °F) and 4700 accumulated degree hours (ADH) are required for development from the moment the egg hatches to pupa
tion.
When larvae have completed all three instars or become disturbed, they enter the pupal stage. Calliphorid flies disperse an average of 15–20 ft (4.6–6.1 ) before pupation and remain in the pupal stage for 3–20 (or more) days. The morphology of the puparia of C. livida is described as 25 globules occurring on the first abdominal segment on the bubble membrane.
e, a characteristic shared with C. coloradensis and some C. latifrons.
. These flies prefer shady locations, and tend to be found in significantly lower temperatures from 4 to 15.6 °C (39.2 to 60.1 F). Calliphorid flies are attracted to carrion
and excrement. C. livida has been shown to arrive on carrion after a delay of about 24 hours.
, which is the crossover between arthropod
science and the judicial system. More importantly, C. livida plays a major role in the branch of medicocriminal forensic entomology, the use of arthropod
evidence to aid in solving usually violent crimes. Flies
and their larva
e can be used as evidence
in such cases and with proper evaluation a post-mortem interval (PMI) can be given. A post-mortem interval, or time of death, is the main way flies and larvae contribute to these cases. Flies and fly larvae are beneficial because they undergo a certain life cycle that follows particular stages within a given time, depending on the environment. Due to this knowledge, entomologists can gather specimens and evaluate, based on the life cycle and knowledge of colonization, approximately how long an individual has been dead. The family Calliphoridae is one of the most important in forensic use due to their strong attraction to flesh. They are usually the first to arrive and colonize a body. C. livida is one such species that is used often when determining a time of death.
. C. livida is normally active during the springtime, but can also be found during the colder months. However, the most important indication of the post-mortem interval is the appearance of larva
e. Eggs that have been laid on the carrion
by the adult blow fly hatch within a 24–48 hour period. These larvae then have three instar
s, or developmental stages, in which they grow and decompose the body. The three instars occur throughout a period of 4 to 15 days depending on the amount of calories that can be amassed by a maggot
. The three instars can be differentiated by the amount of slits there are in the spiracle
of the maggot. The next phase of development in C. livida is the pupa, which lasts from 3 to 13 days. The length of pupation can be determined by color changes in the pupa
from light to dark.
The development of C. livida is very useful in determining post-mortem interval estimations because it is possible to determine relatively precise estimations based on a specific instar. Temperature, heat generated by the maggot mass, the type of food source, contaminants and toxins, and obstructions that thwart the oviposition
of adults are all factors that can affect the rate of development of larvae, thereby effecting the estimation.
and larva
e can be beneficial to humans through the judicial system, they can also do a lot of harm. Flies can act as a vector for carrying bacteria
on or in their body and then can deposit these germs
on or near humans. Members of the genus Calliphora
have been found to spread a number of bacterial diseases including poliomyelitis
and dysentery
and can cause myiasis
. Myiasis is the feeding of larvae on necrotic tissue of a living organism. C. livida has been reported to cause myiasis, but it is not common for this species. C. livida can, however, be a vector for bacterial diseases and cause human illnesses.
s to control fly breeding in garbage cans. According to the study, BHC, or lindane
, showed the best results for controlling the breeding of Calliphora livida. Other materials that were used in the testing were dieldrin
and chlordane
, where the latter was shown to be the least effective. When the study was conducted again in 1951, PDB
(paradichlorobenzene) crystals were shown to be a more effective pesticide than BHC. Interestingly, all materials tested seemed to be more effective towards blow flies than house flies.
Calliphora
Calliphora is the type genus of blow flies, the family Calliphoridae.-Species in the genus Calliphora:...
, the "blue bottle flies". This genus is important in the field of forensic entomology
Forensic entomology
Forensic entomology is the application and study of insect and other arthropod biology to criminal matters. It is primarily associated with death investigations; however, it may also be used to detect drugs and poisons, determine the location of an incident, and find the presence and time of the...
because of its value in post-mortem interval estimation.
Taxonomy
Calliphora livida, known as the slow-flying and loud-buzzing blue bottle flyBlue bottle fly
The blue bottle fly or bottlebee is a common blow-fly found in most areas of the world and is the type species for the genus Calliphora.-Description:...
, was first discovered by Jean-Baptiste Robineau-Desvoidy
Jean-Baptiste Robineau-Desvoidy
André Jean Baptiste Robineau-Desvoidy was a French physician and entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera and to some extent of the Coleoptera .-Achievements:...
who originally thought C. livida was part of the species Calliphora viridescens. Robineau-Desvoidy described C. viridescens in 1830, but it was not until 1948 that C. livida was described as a separate species; in 1948, D. G. Hall introduced one of the first textbooks of entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
, where he described a number of new species including C. livida. C. livida is also very similar to the species C. coloradensis, which when suffering from teneral has similar genal dilation.
Description
Life cycle and reproduction
Blue bottle flies have a life cycle of approximately 15–36 days. The CalliphoraCalliphora
Calliphora is the type genus of blow flies, the family Calliphoridae.-Species in the genus Calliphora:...
species also have an optimal growth temperature from 18–30 °C (64.4–86 F).
Developmental Stages
The egg is the first stage in the life cycle of a fly. The female extends structures called telescoping segments on her abdomen to lay eggs. C. livida eggs are identified as being less than 1.35 millimetre (0.0531496062992126 in) in length, without pronounced flanges or longitudinal ridges, and with the arms of the flanges straight or slightly diverging.The egg stage is followed by the larval stage. Calliphorid flies have three larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
l instars lasting 421 days in all. Larvae in the genus Calliphora can be characterized by being round in cross section, slightly raised posterior spiracles which are surrounded by 10 or more tubercles, complete peritremes, and an accessory oral sclerite. C. vicina
Calliphora vicina
Calliphora vicina is a member of the family Calliphoridae, which includes blow-flies and bottle flies. These flies are important in the field of forensic entomology. C. vicina is currently one of the most entomologically important fly species because of its consistent time of arrival and...
, a close relative to C. livida, has larval growth estimated to be at 4–30 °C (39.2–86 F). The minimum developmental temperature is approximately 1 °C (33.8 °F) and 4700 accumulated degree hours (ADH) are required for development from the moment the egg hatches to pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
tion.
When larvae have completed all three instars or become disturbed, they enter the pupal stage. Calliphorid flies disperse an average of 15–20 ft (4.6–6.1 ) before pupation and remain in the pupal stage for 3–20 (or more) days. The morphology of the puparia of C. livida is described as 25 globules occurring on the first abdominal segment on the bubble membrane.
Adult
Adult C. livida have a blue metallic sheen dulled by micromentum, or dense, tiny hairs. C. livida can be easily confused with C. coloradensis; C. livida is distinguished by a black genal dilation (the cheek area of the fly) as opposed to a red genal dilation as found on C. coloradensis. This characteristic is good to use for identification in fully sclerotized specimens but can be misleading in teneral flies, which are common in C. coloradensis. Blue bottle flies are around 6 millimetre in length, making them appear robust. C. livida has three postsutural intra-alar setaSeta
Seta is a biological term derived from the Latin word for "bristle". It refers to a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms.-Animal setae:In zoology, most "setae" occur in invertebrates....
e, a characteristic shared with C. coloradensis and some C. latifrons.
Distribution and diet
C. livida is widespread over North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. These flies prefer shady locations, and tend to be found in significantly lower temperatures from 4 to 15.6 °C (39.2 to 60.1 F). Calliphorid flies are attracted to carrion
Carrion
Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...
and excrement. C. livida has been shown to arrive on carrion after a delay of about 24 hours.
Forensic
Calliphora livida holds great importance to forensic entomologyForensic entomology
Forensic entomology is the application and study of insect and other arthropod biology to criminal matters. It is primarily associated with death investigations; however, it may also be used to detect drugs and poisons, determine the location of an incident, and find the presence and time of the...
, which is the crossover between arthropod
Arthropod
An arthropod is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton , a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda , and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others...
science and the judicial system. More importantly, C. livida plays a major role in the branch of medicocriminal forensic entomology, the use of arthropod
Arthropod
An arthropod is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton , a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda , and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others...
evidence to aid in solving usually violent crimes. Flies
Fly
True flies are insects of the order Diptera . They possess a pair of wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres, derived from the hind wings, on the metathorax...
and their larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e can be used as evidence
Evidence
Evidence in its broadest sense includes everything that is used to determine or demonstrate the truth of an assertion. Giving or procuring evidence is the process of using those things that are either presumed to be true, or were themselves proven via evidence, to demonstrate an assertion's truth...
in such cases and with proper evaluation a post-mortem interval (PMI) can be given. A post-mortem interval, or time of death, is the main way flies and larvae contribute to these cases. Flies and fly larvae are beneficial because they undergo a certain life cycle that follows particular stages within a given time, depending on the environment. Due to this knowledge, entomologists can gather specimens and evaluate, based on the life cycle and knowledge of colonization, approximately how long an individual has been dead. The family Calliphoridae is one of the most important in forensic use due to their strong attraction to flesh. They are usually the first to arrive and colonize a body. C. livida is one such species that is used often when determining a time of death.
Post-mortem interval
Calliphora livida is important in post-mortem interval estimation because of its relatively early appearance on carrionCarrion
Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...
. C. livida is normally active during the springtime, but can also be found during the colder months. However, the most important indication of the post-mortem interval is the appearance of larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e. Eggs that have been laid on the carrion
Carrion
Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...
by the adult blow fly hatch within a 24–48 hour period. These larvae then have three instar
Instar
An instar is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each molt , until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or assume a new form. Differences between instars can often be seen in altered body proportions, colors, patterns, or...
s, or developmental stages, in which they grow and decompose the body. The three instars occur throughout a period of 4 to 15 days depending on the amount of calories that can be amassed by a maggot
Maggot
In everyday speech the word maggot means the larva of a fly ; it is applied in particular to the larvae of Brachyceran flies, such as houseflies, cheese flies, and blowflies, rather than larvae of the Nematocera, such as mosquitoes and Crane flies...
. The three instars can be differentiated by the amount of slits there are in the spiracle
Spiracle
Spiracles are openings on the surface of some animals that usually lead to respiratory systems.-Vertebrates:The spiracle is a small hole behind each eye that opens to the mouth in some fishes. In the primitive jawless fish the first gill opening immediately behind the mouth is essentially similar...
of the maggot. The next phase of development in C. livida is the pupa, which lasts from 3 to 13 days. The length of pupation can be determined by color changes in the pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
from light to dark.
The development of C. livida is very useful in determining post-mortem interval estimations because it is possible to determine relatively precise estimations based on a specific instar. Temperature, heat generated by the maggot mass, the type of food source, contaminants and toxins, and obstructions that thwart the oviposition
Oviposition
Oviposition is the process of laying eggs by oviparous animals.Some arthropods, for example, lay their eggs with an organ called the ovipositor.Fish , amphibians, reptiles, birds and monetremata also lay eggs....
of adults are all factors that can affect the rate of development of larvae, thereby effecting the estimation.
Medical/economic
While fliesFly
True flies are insects of the order Diptera . They possess a pair of wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres, derived from the hind wings, on the metathorax...
and larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e can be beneficial to humans through the judicial system, they can also do a lot of harm. Flies can act as a vector for carrying bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
on or in their body and then can deposit these germs
Microorganism
A microorganism or microbe is a microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters, or no cell at all...
on or near humans. Members of the genus Calliphora
Calliphora
Calliphora is the type genus of blow flies, the family Calliphoridae.-Species in the genus Calliphora:...
have been found to spread a number of bacterial diseases including poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route...
and dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
and can cause myiasis
Myiasis
Myiasis is a general term for infection by parasitic fly larvae feeding on the host's necrotic or living tissue. Colloquialisms for myiasis include flystrike, blowfly strike, and fly-blown. In Greek, "myia" means fly....
. Myiasis is the feeding of larvae on necrotic tissue of a living organism. C. livida has been reported to cause myiasis, but it is not common for this species. C. livida can, however, be a vector for bacterial diseases and cause human illnesses.
Control and management
In 1950, a study was conducted in Savannah, Georgia on use of insecticideInsecticide
An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind...
s to control fly breeding in garbage cans. According to the study, BHC, or lindane
Lindane
Lindane, also known as gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane, , gammaxene, Gammallin and erroneously known as benzene hexachloride , is an organochlorine chemical variant of hexachlorocyclohexane that has been used both as an agricultural insecticide and as a pharmaceutical treatment for lice and...
, showed the best results for controlling the breeding of Calliphora livida. Other materials that were used in the testing were dieldrin
Dieldrin
Dieldrin is a chlorinated hydrocarbon originally produced in 1948 by J. Hyman & Co, Denver, as an insecticide. Dieldrin is closely related to aldrin, which reacts further to form dieldrin. Aldrin is not toxic to insects; it is oxidized in the insect to form dieldrin which is the active compound...
and chlordane
Chlordane
Chlordane, or chlordan, is an organochlorine compound that was used as a pesticide. This white solid was sold in the U.S. until 1983 as an insecticide for crops like corn and citrus and on lawns and domestic gardens.-Production and uses:...
, where the latter was shown to be the least effective. When the study was conducted again in 1951, PDB
1,4-Dichlorobenzene
1,4-Dichlorobenzene is an organic compound with the formula C6H4Cl2. This colorless solid has a strong odor. It consists of two chlorine atoms substituted at opposing sites on a benzene ring. p-DCB is used a pesticide and a deodorant, most familiarly in mothballs in which it is a replacement for...
(paradichlorobenzene) crystals were shown to be a more effective pesticide than BHC. Interestingly, all materials tested seemed to be more effective towards blow flies than house flies.