The Calliphoridae are a family of insects in the order Diptera, with 1,200 known species. The maggot larvae, often used as fishing bait, are known as gentles. The family is known to be polyphyletic, but much remains disputed regarding proper treatment of the constituent taxa, some of which are occasionally accorded family status.
Oestroidea is a superfamily of Calyptratae including the blow flies, bot flies, flesh flies, and their relatives.
The grass flies or cluster flies or attic flies are the genus Pollenia in the family Polleniidae are completely harmless to human health. They are strictly parasitic on earthworms; the females lay their eggs near earthworm burrows, and the larvae then feed on the worms. Cluster flies seek refuge in cold weather and find their way into attic spaces and similar areas indoors. They often emerge on warm days, and cluster at windows attempting to exit(hence the name).
The Lauxaniidae are a family of acalyptrate flies. They generally are small flies with large compound eyes that often are brightly coloured in life, sometimes with characteristic horizontal stripes, such as in Cestrotus species. Many species have variegated patterns on their wings, but in contrast they generally do not have variegated bodies, except for genera such as Cestrotus, whose camouflage mimics lichens or the texture of granitic rocks.
Clusiidae or "druid flies" is a family of small, thin, yellow to black acalyptrate flies with a characteristic antenna and with the wing usually partially infuscated. They have a cylindrical body. The head is round, the vertical plate reaches the anterior margin of the frons and the vibrissae on the head are large. The costa is interrupted near subcosta and the latter developed throughout length. Larvae are found in the bark of trees, the flies on trunks. The larvae are notable for their ability to jump. Males of many species in the subfamily Clusiodinae have been observed while engaged in lekking behaviour. There are hundreds of species in 14 genera found in all the Ecoregions, although most species occur in tropical regions. The type genus is Clusia Haliday, 1838.
Bengalia is a genus of blow flies in the family Calliphoridae with one authority considering the genus to belong to a separate family Bengaliidae. These bristly and, unlike the greens and blues of most calliphorids, dull coloured flies, are especially noted for their relationship to ants. Little is known of their biology and life-cycle, although adults of many species are kleptoparasitic on ants and will snatch food and pupae being carried by ants or feed on winged termites. The apt name “Highwayman Fly” was given by an early observer of their way of robbing ants. Very little is known about their breeding habits. The genus is found in the Afrotropical and oriental region with one species from Australia possibly a recent introduction.
The species Phormia regina , more commonly known as the black blow fly, belongs to the blow fly family Calliphoridae and was first described by Johann Wilhelm Meigen.
The Chrysomyinae are a subfamily of Calliphoridae, or blow flies. According to Whitworth, the distinguishing characteristic of this subfamily is a setose stem vein.
The Luciliinae are a subfamily of Calliphoridae, or blow flies. According to Whitworth, the distinguishing characteristics of this subfamily are its shining green, blue, or bronze thorax and abdomen, suprasquamal ridge with a setae cluster, and a bare lower calypter. When measuring the head to frons ratios in females, the frons is not narrowest at the vertex as in most of the female Calliphoridae.. This subfamily includes one genus: Lucilia.
The Melanomyinae are a subfamily of Calliphoridae, or blow flies. According to Whitworth,, the most distinguishing characteristic of this subfamily is its dull color; however, the biology is poorly known..
Melanodexia is a peculiar New World cluster fly genus of the western United States, formerly included in the family Calliphoridae.
The Bengaliinae are a subfamily of Calliphoridae, or blow flies.
Cordylobia is a genus of flies from the family Calliphoridae. The larvae of Cordylobia are parasitic on mammals, especially rodents. Two species, C. anthropophaga and C. rodhaini, also are known as parasites of humans. The adult flies feed on rotting fruits, vegetables, and animal faeces, and are most abundant in the wet season. Like many tropical insects, they are most active in the morning and evening. Cordylobia species are largely confined to Africa, though they have been recorded elsewhere when transported by human travellers.
Lucilia thatuna belongs to the family Calliphoridae, the species most commonly referred to as the blowflies, and the genus Lucilia. Along with several other species of Lucilia, L. thatuna is commonly referred to as a green bottle fly. L. thatuna is very scarce and not much is known about this particular fly. It has been noted to reside in mountainous regions of the northwestern United States.
Andy Z. Lehrer was a Romanian entomologist. From 1996 until his death, he worked as a research associate in the laboratory of Zoology at the University of Tel Aviv in Tel Aviv, Israel. For several years, he studied flesh flies and blow flies from all over the world.
Cordylobia rodhaini also known as the Lund's fly derived its common name from captain Lund, who was the first European to show symptoms of the disease caused by the larvae of the same fly. The Lund’s fly belongs to the genus Cordylobia, a group of flies from the family Calliphoridae. The larvae of the Lund’s fly are parasites of thinned-skinned mammals, especially the Gambian rat, mona monkey and small antelopes and are only accidental parasites of humans. The adult flies feeds on rotting fruits, vegetables and animal feces, and are most abundant in the wet season. Like many tropical insects they are most active in the dark periods and have the greatest activity early in the morning and late in the evening while resting typically between 8am to 5pm. The Lund’s fly are largely confined to tropical Africa, especially the rainforest areas in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, as a result of human migration, the parasitic infections they cause have been recorded in other continents including Europe and Asia.
Verticia is a genus of flies (Diptera) in the family Calliphoridae. The genus was first described by J.R. Malloch in 1927.
Pollenia vagabunda is a species of blow fly in the family Polleniidae.
Pollenia angustigena is a species of blow fly in the family Polleniidae.
Polleniidae is a family of flies in the order Diptera. There are at least 6 genera and more than 190 described species placed definitively in Polleniidae, and other genera whose placement here is considered uncertain. The largest genus is Pollenia, with close to 190 species of flies commonly called "cluster flies".
