Blow fly - Kurobae (English spelling)

A general term for insects in the Calliphoridae family of the Diptera order of the Insecta class, or the Calliphora genus. Calliphora flies are generally large flies with a black thorax and a shiny bluish-black abdomen. The giant blow fly C. lata is commonly found near residential areas, preferring to gather on fish and carrion, where it lays eggs. It also breeds in large numbers in pit toilets, and is an important sanitary pest as it also feeds on food. It can be found in spring and autumn on plains and disappears in summer, but can be found in midsummer in cool mountain regions. A closely related species, the blue-green fly C. vomitoria , lives in mountain areas and can breed in toilets in mountain huts and the like. This species is a sanitary pest that is distributed widely around the world. The blow fly C. vicina (also known as C. erythrocephala ) is a naturalized insect found only in Tokyo and cities north of Toyama. It was a sanitary pest widely distributed in North America, Europe, and Siberia, but after World War II, it invaded Hokkaido from the north and became distributed from the Tohoku region to the Kanto and Chubu regions. It is often used as a subject for physiological experiments. The Melinda genus has a body shape similar to that of a house fly and is viviparous. The larvae parasitize snails and slugs. The Onesia genus is also viviparous, and the larvae parasitize earthworms. The Pollenia genus has beautiful blonde-like hair on its body and is oviparous, parasitizing earthworms. The adults of the Bengalia genus are predatory, stealing eggs and cocoons from ants in a procession and eating them. Chrysomya megacephala is called the "Toilet Fly of the Orient" and is a dirty fly that carries digestive infectious diseases and parasitic eggs in Southeast Asia. It is egg-laying and breeds in large numbers in carrion and toilets. The larvae of the Protocalliphora genus parasitize the chicks of wild birds. Among the Calliphoridae family, the ones whose entire bodies shine blue-green are called blowflies.

[Hiroshi Kurahashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

昆虫綱双翅(そうし)目環縫(かんほう)亜目クロバエ科Calliphoridaeの昆虫の総称、またはそのなかのクロバエ属Calliphoraをさす。クロバエ属は一般に胸部が黒色で、腹部は青黒色光沢をもつ大形のハエである。オオクロバエC. lataは民家付近に普通にみられ、魚や腐肉に好んで集まり、それに産卵する。くみ取り式便所にも大発生し、食品にもたかるので重要な衛生害虫である。平地では春秋にみられ、夏に姿を消すが、涼しい山地帯では盛夏にもみられる。山地には近縁種のミヤマクロバエC. vomitoriaが産し、山小屋などの便所に発生したりする。本種は世界に広く分布する衛生害虫である。ホオアカクロバエC. vicina（一名C. erythrocephala）は帰化昆虫で、東京地方と富山地方以北の都市のみにみられる。北アメリカ、ヨーロッパ、シベリアに広く分布する衛生害虫であったが、第二次世界大戦後、北方から北海道に侵入し、東北地方から関東地方、および中部地方に分布するようになった。生理学実験の材料によく利用される。コクロバエ属Melindaはイエバエに似た体形で、胎生。幼虫はカタツムリやナメクジに寄生する。チビクロバエ属Onesiaも胎生で、幼虫はミミズに寄生する。ヒメクロバエ属Polleniaは体に金髪様の美しい毛を装い、卵生でミミズに寄生する。ベンガルバエ属Bengaliaは成虫が捕食性で、行列中のアリから卵や繭を奪って食べる。オビキンバエChrysomya megacephalaは「東洋の便所バエ」とよばれ、東南アジアでは消化器伝染病や寄生虫卵を運搬する汚いハエで、卵生で腐肉や便所で大量発生する。トリキンバエ属Protocalliphoraの幼虫は野鳥の雛(ひな)に外部寄生する。クロバエ科のなかで、体全体が青緑色に光るものをキンバエとよんでいる。

［倉橋　弘］

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