|
|
|
BLOWFLY
 |
| Photo Information |
Copyright: Sumon Sinha (Mana)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif) (16346) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2007-05-19 |
| Categories: Insects |
| Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-H2 |
| Exposure: f/5.6, 1/60 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2007-05-20 7:18 |
| Viewed: 304 |
| Points: 26 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Blow-flies (also frequently spelled blow flies or blowflies) are members of the family Calliphoridae of flies (Diptera). Flies in this family are often metallic in appearance.
Some members of this family are known as bluebottles, clusterflies or greenbottles. The name blow-fly comes from an older English term for meat that had eggs laid on it, which was said to be fly blown. Blow-flies are usually the first insect to come in contact with a dead animal.
Blowflies have caught the interest of researchers in a variety of fields, although the large body of literature on calliphorids has been concentrated on solving the problem of myiasis in livestock. It is estimated that the sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina causes the Australian sheep industry over $170 million a year in losses. While much of the biology of these flies has been studied in the laboratory, the natural life history of the blowflies remains a largely untapped body of research.
Adult blow-flies are occasional pollinators, being attracted to flowers with a strong odor resembling rotting meat, such as the American pawpaw or Dead Horse Arum. There is little doubt that these flies utilize nectar as a source of carbohydrates to fuel flight, but just how and when this happens is unknown.
Larvae of most species are scavengers of carrion and dung and most likely constitute the majority of the maggots found in such material, although it is not uncommon for them to be found in close associate with other dipterous larvae from the families Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, and many other acalyptrate muscoid flies.
Most species of blowflies studied thus far are anautogenous; a female requires a substantial amount of protein to develop mature eggs within her ovaries (about 800 µg per pair of ovaries in Phormia regina). The current theory is that females visit carrion both for protein and egg laying, but this remains to be proven. Blow-fly eggs are approximately 1.5 mm x 0.4 mm, are yellowish or white, and when laid, look like rice balls. While the female blow-fly typically lays 150-200 eggs per batch, she is usually iteroparous, laying around 2,000 eggs during the course of her life. The sex ratio of blowfly eggs is usually 50:50, but one interesting exception is currently documented in the literature. Females from two species of the genus Chrysomya (C. rufifaces and C. albiceps) are either arrhenogenic (laying only male offspring) or thelygenic (laying only female offspring).
Hatching from an egg to the first larval stage takes about 8 hours to one day. Larvae have three stages of development (called instars); each stage is separated by a molting event.The instars are separable by examining the posterior spiracles, or openings to the breathing system [2]. The larvae use proteolytic enzymes in their excreta (as well as mechanical grinding by mouth hooks) to break down proteins on the livestock or corpse they are feeding on. Blowflies are poikilothermic, which is to say that the rate at which they grow and develop is highly dependent on temperature and species. Under room temperature (about 30 degrees celsius) the black blowfly Phormia regina can go from egg to pupa in 150-266 hours (6 to 11 days). When the third stage is complete the pupa will leave the corpse and burrow into the ground, emerging as an adult 7 to 14 days later.
Since development is highly predictable if the ambient temperature is known, blow-flies are considered a valuable tool in forensic science. Traditional estimations of time since death (namely rigor mortis and algor mortis) are generally unreliable after 72 hours and often entomologists are the only officials capable of generating an accurate approximate time interval. The specialized discipline related to this practice is known as forensic entomology.
Blowfly maggots have also been used successfully in the treatment of badly infected wounds.
Worldwide, there are 1100 species of blowflies, with 228 species in the Neotropics, but very numerous species in Africa and Southern Europe.
Scientific classification -
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Suborder: Brachycera
Infraorder: Muscomorpha
Family: Calliphoridae |
Photoslave, jcoowanitwong, angybone, LordPotty, jaycee, ramthakur, GLEM, Argus, PaulH, saeedabbasi, Isu has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
|
|
| Discussions |
| None | | You must be logged in to start a discussion. |
|
Hi Sumon,
Nice shot on this blowfly. I like the metallic colors and the way you composed this picture. Good use of flash to reveal details of this blowfly. Also thanks for informative note.
JC
The composition is great - the jagged edge of the leaf against the dark background sets the scene beautifully. Your fly is crisp and clear, great vivid colors and I'm with JC, I love those metallic colors.
Hi Sumon,
A good picture, interesting to take it from the top. Good composition. Well done.
Jan-Hendrik
- jaycee
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1778 W: 8 N: 4597]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(14871) - [2007-05-20 10:27]
-
Hi Sumon,
Wonderful closeup of the blowfly. The colors and details are fantastic. Beautiful composition with the edge of the lovely leaf and the black bg.
Jane
Hi Sumon,
A very good shot of this metallic looking fly.
At first I wondered if it might be the European Green Blowfly or 'Greenbottle' (Lucilia sericata) but on closer inspection, I think it probably is the Hairy Maggot Blowfly (Chrysomya rufifacies)
Its a great macro anyway,with good detail, and a very thorough and informative note.
Great work.
Steve
-
- arfer
![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-n.gif)
(0) - [2007-05-20 10:48]
-
Hello Sumon
Wonderful DOF and POV.The overhead look really makes a nice composition.The lighting is fantastic,with very good contrast.The colours are bold and well saturated.The shot is spot on focus with razor sharp details.Expertly done.TFS
Rob
From this top perspective, all the details and colours on this Blow Fly are crystal clear, Sumon.
The details on the green leaf are also immaculate.
Both combine well into a pleasant composition.
Well done and TFS.
-
- GLEM
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 524 W: 87 N: 693]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(5739) - [2007-05-20 11:51]
-
salut Sumon,
trčs belle macro de cette mouche colorée au milieu ce cet étendu de vert. Excellent POV, détails parfaits.
gl
-
- PaulH
(10774)
- [2007-05-20 15:00]
-
Hi Sumon,
I really like the 'plan view' POV here, the details are excellent and the serrated edge of the leaf is great against the dark background. Excellent work!
Pau
-
- Argus
(23169)
- [2007-05-20 15:01]
-
Hello Sumon,
Super sharp and well composed macro of a Blow Fly, contrasting well with the leaf BG. Good use of flash to produce fine lighting and dark BG to the leaf.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan
Hi dear Sumon ,
great focus and excellent details.
colours and sharpness are excellent too.
nice frame.
very well captured.
thanks for sharing
Reagrds
Saeed
-
- Isu
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 313 W: 0 N: 21]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-s.gif)
(1663) - [2007-06-04 19:20]
-
Hola Sumon, excelente tiro, colores nitidos vivos y parfecto, hermosa foto gracias por la información. Sira
Hi Sumon,
the composition with the leaf border is absolutely great! Excellent detail too
TFS!
Giorgio
