Bluebottle flies

Life-cycle

Bluebottle flies are larger than the common house fly and they have a shiny blue body dusted with white on the abdomen.  They are also know as blowflies because they 'blow' their eggs onto exposed meat.

Creamy white eggs are laid on the flesh of dead animals and can hatch between 18-48 hours.  The small larvae known as maggots feed on the flesh of the animal.  The pupal stage lasts from 9-12 days, the pupa are a cylindrical in shape and dull red-brown. 

The normal habitat of Bluebottle flies is outside.  Females may enter houses in search of food unlike the common house fly they may frequent cool dark places such as larders and can be distinguished by their loud buzzing noise.