The Calliphoridae are a family of insects in the order Diptera, with almost 1,900 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. It occurs worldwide and has about 15,000 described species.
Cluster flies are flies of the genus Pollenia in the family Polleniidae. Unlike the more familiar blow flies, such as the bluebottle genus Phormia, they are completely harmless to human health because they do not lay eggs in human food. They are parasitic on earthworms; the females lay their eggs near earthworm burrows, and the larvae then feed on the worms. But the biology of this group is relatively poorly known and a few have been recorded from other hosts including caterpillars and bees.
Calliphora vomitoria, known as the blue bottle fly, orange-bearded blue bottle, or bottlebee is a species of blow fly, a species in the family Calliphoridae. Calliphora vomitoria is the type species of the genus Calliphora. It is common throughout many continents including Europe, Americas, and Africa. They are fairly large flies, nearly twice the size of the housefly, with a metallic blue abdomen and long orange setae on the gena.
Pollenia rudis, the common cluster fly, is a species of fly in the family Polleniidae. Pollenia rudis is also known as the attic fly, the loft fly, pollenie du lombric [French], and the buckwheat fly. During the autumn and winter months, Pollenia rudis can be found overwintering inside attics or lofts. This sluggish species can be found “clustering” near the interior windows of a warm structure.
Melanodexia is a peculiar New World cluster fly genus of the western United States, formerly included in the family Calliphoridae.
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".
Pollenia bezziana is a species of cluster fly in the family Polleniidae.
Pollenia stigi is a species of cluster fly in the family Polleniidae.
Pollenia verneri is a species of cluster fly in the family Polleniidae.
Pollenia chotei is a species of cluster fly in the family Polleniidae.
Pollenia griseotomentosa is a species of cluster fly in the family Polleniidae.
Pollenia grunini is a species of cluster fly in the family Polleniidae.
Pollenia mystica is a species of cluster fly in the family Polleniidae.
Pollenia paragrunini is a species of cluster fly in the family Polleniidae.
Pollenia ponti is a species of cluster fly in the family Polleniidae.
Pollenia amentaria is a species of cluster fly in the family Polleniidae.
Pollenia labialis is a species of cluster fly in the family Polleniidae.
Pollenia pediculata is a species of cluster fly in the family Polleniidae.
