Calliphora loewi
Encyclopedia
Calliphora loewi is part of the family Calliphoridae, bottle flies and blowflies, and in the genus Calliphora
, blue bottle flies. The genus can be deceiving since C. loewi is not blue. Though this species is rare, it can play an important part in forensic entomology, spreading disease, and decomposing carrion. The life cycle of C. loewi is similar to the life cycle of the genus Calliphora. Since this species is rare there has not been very much research done with this species.
, a German entomologist, first described Calliphora loewi in 1903. Calliphora
loewi ranges in length from 6–14 mm. C. loewi is a rare species that can be confused with C. terraenovae because some species have a similar reddish genal groove. The head is typically a black color with the exception of the lower facial edge. The posterior of the head is concave with 3 to 5 rows of black setae, centrally with pale hairs. The frontal area of the males head is narrower than the females. The cerci
in the males are long and narrow. Males also have bordering frontal orbital plates, whereas the females have frontal vita about three times the width of the frontal orbital plates. The females have very large antennae compared to normal sized antennae in males.
and Denmark and can be found limited in numbers in other parts of northern and central Europe. Specimens have been found as far east as Mongolia and Japan. The only recorded findings of the species in North America were in Alaska and Canada. C. loewi is also thought to avoid human settlements.
. Larvae will hatch within 6–48 hours after eggs have been deposited. They shed their skins three times during their larval stage. The time it takes to molt into the next instar
is fairly consistent; however, temperature can be a factor. Colder weather will slow down the amount of time it takes for each developmental stage, and warmer weather will speed it up. The life cycle from egg to adult can be anywhere from 16–35 days, depending on environmental conditions.
stage begins. The three instars of the maggots have different characteristics. The first is less than 2 mm long and is a twelve segment skeleton with mouthparts present. The second instar has spines located on the dorsal side and has 2 posterior spiracle
slits from which it breathes. During the third instar, the mouthparts are fully developed. The mouth-hook tooth becomes longer, and the maggot now has three posterior spiracles.
. While encased as a pupa, it is unable to feed and is immobile.
is the study of arthropods and their connection to the courts of law. The Calliphoridae family is very important in forensic entomology. The Calliphora
genus also has a very distinct life cycle so based on the different stages that can be found on a corpse; therefore an accurate post mortem interval
can be determined.
Upon finding blowflies and or their larva
e on a corpse, it is extremely important to accurately identify the correct species. For example, a semi- rounded sclerite
lying behind the mouth-hook of blowfly larvae exists only in C. loewi and C. vomitoria
. Since both of these species of Calliphoridae tend to be found in rural areas, an entomologist can use these characteristics to determine a region or habitat where the victim died.
Entomologists can use SDF (spiracle distance factor) values when identifying between Calliphora sp. SDF is calculated by dividing the distance between the spiracles by the greatest diameter of one spiracle. Since the greatest diameter of one spiracle tends to remain constant for each species, SDF values are very useful. To tell the difference between C. loewi and C. vomitoria, the SDF for C. vomitoria decreases (the spiracles come closer together) when the pupa
rium transitions between the 2nd and 3rd instars. The SDF for C. loewi however remains constant (the spiracles maintain their distance between).
have produced cultures that contain pathogens. Although C. loewi does breed in carrion
and possibly in human feces, it remains uncertain whether it carries or transmits disease.
, the stinkhorn fungus, which tends to smell like carrion
. The Stapelia
flower, which smells like carrion and emits heat like that of decomposition, also attracts blowflies. The flower causes females to oviposit (deposit eggs from ovipositor
) but it does not support past the 1st instars. Some other plants do support larvae through full development.
has also been used in trap baits and for the suppression of other Calliphora sp.
Future research about the behavior of C. loewi will provide more information to gain a better picture of the lifecycle which will allow investigators to better estimate the time of colonization and PMI. For medicinal purposes, the possibility that the larvae can be used in maggot therapy
is currently unknown and also can be researched.
Calliphora
Calliphora is the type genus of blow flies, the family Calliphoridae.-Species in the genus Calliphora:...
, blue bottle flies. The genus can be deceiving since C. loewi is not blue. Though this species is rare, it can play an important part in forensic entomology, spreading disease, and decomposing carrion. The life cycle of C. loewi is similar to the life cycle of the genus Calliphora. Since this species is rare there has not been very much research done with this species.
Description
Günther EnderleinGünther Enderlein
Günther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, a German entomologist, first described Calliphora loewi in 1903. Calliphora
Calliphora
Calliphora is the type genus of blow flies, the family Calliphoridae.-Species in the genus Calliphora:...
loewi ranges in length from 6–14 mm. C. loewi is a rare species that can be confused with C. terraenovae because some species have a similar reddish genal groove. The head is typically a black color with the exception of the lower facial edge. The posterior of the head is concave with 3 to 5 rows of black setae, centrally with pale hairs. The frontal area of the males head is narrower than the females. The cerci
Cercus
Cerci are paired appendages on the rear-most segments of many arthropods, including insects and arachnids but not crustaceans. Cerci often serve as sensory organs, but they may also be used as weapons or copulation aids, or they may simply be vestigial structures.Typical cerci may appear to be...
in the males are long and narrow. Males also have bordering frontal orbital plates, whereas the females have frontal vita about three times the width of the frontal orbital plates. The females have very large antennae compared to normal sized antennae in males.
Food source
The maggots have hook-like mouth parts that tear apart the tissues where they live. The adults have sponge-like mouth parts in which they will first coat their food in digestive enzymes then suck up the matter. C. loewi primarily feed on dead animals but can be occasionally found on vegetation.Distribution
Calliphora loewi is a very rare species but can be found in all parts of the world. C. loewi is widespread in FennoscandiaFennoscandia
Fennoscandia and Fenno-Scandinavia are geographic and geological terms used to describe the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Kola Peninsula, Karelia and Finland...
and Denmark and can be found limited in numbers in other parts of northern and central Europe. Specimens have been found as far east as Mongolia and Japan. The only recorded findings of the species in North America were in Alaska and Canada. C. loewi is also thought to avoid human settlements.
Life cycle
The life cycle of C. loewi has six stages: the egg, three larval stages (instars), pupae, and adult fly. The adults will lay their eggs on suitable habitats, usually 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...
. Larvae will hatch within 6–48 hours after eggs have been deposited. They shed their skins three times during their larval stage. The time it takes to molt into the next 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...
is fairly consistent; however, temperature can be a factor. Colder weather will slow down the amount of time it takes for each developmental stage, and warmer weather will speed it up. The life cycle from egg to adult can be anywhere from 16–35 days, depending on environmental conditions.
Eggs to Larvae
The eggs of this genus are white, slightly curved, cylinder shaped and have blunt ends. Once the eggs hatch the larvaLarva
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...
stage begins. The three instars of the maggots have different characteristics. The first is less than 2 mm long and is a twelve segment skeleton with mouthparts present. The second instar has spines located on the dorsal side and has 2 posterior 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...
slits from which it breathes. During the third instar, the mouthparts are fully developed. The mouth-hook tooth becomes longer, and the maggot now has three posterior spiracles.
Larvae to Pupae
When the third-instar larva has finished growing (12–18 mm), it leaves the corpse and burrows into the ground where it develops into a hardened, capsule-like pupa. The brown/black pupa retains a maggot like appearance with outlines of its spiracles and skin, except now it is sclerotizedSclerosis (medicine)
In medicine, sclerosis refers to the stiffening of a structure, usually caused by a replacement of the normal organ-specific tissue with connective tissue.Types include:...
. While encased as a pupa, it is unable to feed and is immobile.
Pupae to Adult
It takes around 14 days (at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit) before the pupa emerges as an adult fly. The newly adult fly is pale in color with a soft body and wings. As it matures, the fly expands its wings, and the body hardens and changes color. A mature C. loewi is approximately 6–14 mm in length. The fly then mates and will travel several miles to lay its eggs, and the cycle repeats.Forensic
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...
is the study of arthropods and their connection to the courts of law. The Calliphoridae family is very important in forensic entomology. The Calliphora
Calliphora
Calliphora is the type genus of blow flies, the family Calliphoridae.-Species in the genus Calliphora:...
genus also has a very distinct life cycle so based on the different stages that can be found on a corpse; therefore an accurate post mortem interval
Post mortem interval
Post-mortem interval is the time that has elapsed since a person has died. If the time in question is not known, a number of medical/scientific techniques are used to determine it. This also can refer to the stage of decompostion the person is in....
can be determined.
Upon finding blowflies and or 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 on a corpse, it is extremely important to accurately identify the correct species. For example, a semi- rounded sclerite
Sclerite
A sclerite is a hardened body part. The term is used in various branches of biology for various structures including hardened portions of sponges, but it is most commonly used for the hardened portions of arthropod exoskeletons....
lying behind the mouth-hook of blowfly larvae exists only in C. loewi and C. vomitoria
Blue 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:...
. Since both of these species of Calliphoridae tend to be found in rural areas, an entomologist can use these characteristics to determine a region or habitat where the victim died.
Entomologists can use SDF (spiracle distance factor) values when identifying between Calliphora sp. SDF is calculated by dividing the distance between the spiracles by the greatest diameter of one spiracle. Since the greatest diameter of one spiracle tends to remain constant for each species, SDF values are very useful. To tell the difference between C. loewi and C. vomitoria, the SDF for C. vomitoria decreases (the spiracles come closer together) when 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...
rium transitions between the 2nd and 3rd instars. The SDF for C. loewi however remains constant (the spiracles maintain their distance between).
Medical
In the epidemiological sense, blowflies are of concern due to being possible mechanical vectors of disease. Blowfly breeding and feeding hosts tend to be decomposing animals and dung, which are covered with bacteria that consequentially come in contact with the fly. Lab studies have shown that blowflies coming in contact with agarAgar
Agar or agar-agar is a gelatinous substance derived from a polysaccharide that accumulates in the cell walls of agarophyte red algae. Throughout history into modern times, agar has been chiefly used as an ingredient in desserts throughout Asia and also as a solid substrate to contain culture medium...
have produced cultures that contain pathogens. Although C. loewi does breed in 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 possibly in human feces, it remains uncertain whether it carries or transmits disease.
Ecological
They are also very important ecologically because they are decomposers. Blowflies are not only attracted to decomposing hosts but to some plants as well. C. loewi and other blowflies have been observed to be attracted to Phallus impudicusPhallus impudicus
Phallus impudicus, known colloquially as the common stinkhorn, is a widespread fungus recognizable for its foul odor and its phallic shape when mature, the latter feature giving rise to several names in 17th-century England. It is a common mushroom in Europe and western North America, where it...
, the stinkhorn fungus, which tends to smell like 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...
. The Stapelia
Stapelia
The genus Stapelia consists of around 40 species of low growing, spineless, stem succulent plants, predominantly from South Africa. The flowers of certain species, most notably Stapelia gigantea, can reach 41 cm in diameter when fully open...
flower, which smells like carrion and emits heat like that of decomposition, also attracts blowflies. The flower causes females to oviposit (deposit eggs from ovipositor
Ovipositor
The ovipositor is an organ used by some animals for oviposition, i.e., the laying of eggs. It consists of a maximum of three pairs of appendages formed to transmit the egg, to prepare a place for it, and to place it properly...
) but it does not support past the 1st instars. Some other plants do support larvae through full development.
Research
Research has been performed using synthetic trap baits instead of carcasses to capture blowflies. In a field test, dimethyl trisulfide was used in trap baits and C. loewi and other various blowflies were caught in these traps. Blowflies are attracted to decaying hosts due to the odors produced by bacterial decomposition. Dimethyl trisulphide is probably a decomposition product from bacterial decomposition and a major attractant for blowflies looking for hosts. Dimethyl disulfideDimethyl disulfide
Dimethyl disulfide is an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula CH3SSCH3 which is the simplest disulfide. It is a flammable liquid with an unpleasant odor.DMDS can be produced by the reaction of methanethiol with sulfur:-Uses:...
has also been used in trap baits and for the suppression of other Calliphora sp.
Future research about the behavior of C. loewi will provide more information to gain a better picture of the lifecycle which will allow investigators to better estimate the time of colonization and PMI. For medicinal purposes, the possibility that the larvae can be used in maggot therapy
Maggot therapy
Maggot therapy is a type of biotherapy involving the intentional introduction of live, disinfected maggots into the non-healing skin and soft tissue wound of a human or animal for the purpose of cleaning out the...
is currently unknown and also can be researched.