Green bottle flies

A general term for the genus Calliphora in the order Diptera, suborder Cyclorrhaphy, family Calliphoridae, or one of the species within that genus. Flies in this genus are so named because their entire bodies shine golden-green, and in some regions they are also called silver flies. There are about 10 species in Japan, and many of them gather and lay eggs on animal carcasses, feces, garbage dumps, etc. The hatched larvae (maggots) feed on the carrion and become pupae in 4 or 5 days in summer. The pupa is reddish-brown and oval-shaped, and in summer it takes 5 or 6 days for the flies to become adults. A single female can lay more than 200 eggs, which hatch in about one day in summer.

The blowfly Lucilia caesar is also called the Japanese blowfly to distinguish it from other blowflies. It is a somewhat large species with a body length of 9-10 mm and a wing length of 7-8 mm. The dorsal margins of the thorax and abdomen are indigo blue, while the center is golden green. The broad-legged blowfly L. sericata is a medium-sized species with a body length of 8-9 mm and a wing length of 7-8 mm, and the male's head forehead is quite wide. The dorsal part of the thorax is green. The larvae are called sashi and are used as bait for river fishing. The sheep blowfly L. cupina is a somewhat small species with a body length of 8 mm and a wing length of 7 mm. It is copper-colored and has a somewhat dull luster. In the arid regions of Africa and Australia, it is a well-known livestock pest that lays eggs in wounds in sheep, causing myiasis and damaging wool. The frog fly, L. bufonivora , parasitizes frogs with its larvae in the nostrils.

[Hiroshi Kurahashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

昆虫綱双翅(そうし)目環縫(かんぽう)亜目クロバエ科キンバエ属の総称、またはそのなかの1種。この属のハエは体全体が金緑色に光るのでこの名があり、地方によってはギンバエともよばれる。日本に約10種がおり、多くが動物の死体、糞(ふん)、ごみためなどに集まり、産卵する。孵化(ふか)した幼虫（ウジ）はその腐肉を食べ、夏では4、5日で蛹(さなぎ)になる。蛹は赤褐色の楕円(だえん)形で、夏には5、6日で成虫になる。1雌の産卵数は200個以上で、卵は夏には約1日でかえる。

　キンバエLucilia caesarは、ほかのキンバエ類と区別するためにナミキンバエともいう。体長9～10ミリメートル、翅長7～8ミリメートルでやや大形種。胸部と腹部の背面周縁部は青藍(せいらん)色を帯び、中央部は黄金緑色を呈する。ヒロズキンバエL. sericataは、体長8～9ミリメートル、翅長7～8ミリメートルの中形種で、雄の頭部前額がかなり広い。胸部背面は緑色を帯びている。幼虫はサシとよばれて川釣りの餌(えさ)に使われる。ヒツジキンバエL. cupinaは、体長8ミリメートル、翅長7ミリメートルでやや小形種。銅色で光沢はやや鈍い。アフリカやオーストラリアの乾燥地帯では、ヒツジの傷口に産卵し、蠅蛆(はえうじ)症をおこし、羊毛に被害をもたらす有名な家畜の害虫である。カエルヤドリキンバエL. bufonivoraは、カエルの鼻孔内に幼虫が寄生する。

［倉橋　弘］

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