DipteraDiptera Index Flies Pollinators and Flies The Eyes of Flies Australian Sheep Blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) Australian Drain Fly Balaana Beefly Bat Flies Bee Flies Bee Fly (Anthrax) Australiphthiria Ligyra Neosardus cosmus Chrysomya saffranea Clogmia (Moth Fly) Eristalinus punctulatus Musca Odontomyia (Soldier Flies) Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly) Robber Flies Sarcophaga aurifrons Soldier Fly Syrphidae Syrphids Common Halfband (Melangyna viridiceps) Yellow-shouldered Stout Hover Fly (Simosyrphus grandicornis)
The Chrysomya saffranea is the sister species of Chrysomya megacephala, both being a metallic greenish-blue in colour. Sometimes commonly called the Steelblue Bluebottle, they are often mistaken for each other. The species are a primary invader of carrion, although they have been recorded in the southern areas of its distribution, to more likely behave as a secondary fly (O’Flynn and Moorhouse 1979)1.
Whilst the blowfly species Chrysomya saffranea look similar to the C. megacephala, it is recognized by the absence of black setulae hair around its vibrissa. The male has enlarged eye facets above, with no distinct line of demarcation from those below.
In their six week lifespan, the adult fly feeds on a range of things including decaying matter, excreta (faeces), and nectar from flowers.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Diptera
- Division zoology: Cyclorrhapha
- Informal: Calyptratae
- Superfamily: Oestroidea
- Family: Calliphoridae
- Subfamily: Chrysomyinae
- Genus: Chrysomya
- Species: Chrysomya saffranea
Footnote & References
- Chrysomya saffranea, Carrion Flies of Australia, Kavazos C. R. J., Meiklejohn K. A., Archer M. S. and Wallman J. F., https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/Carrion_flies_of_Australia/Chrysomya_saffranea.htm
- Steelblue Bluebottle – Chrysomya saffranea, Brisbane Insects and Spiders, https://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_muscoid/Bluebottle.htm
- Chrysomya, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysomya (last visited Feb. 12, 2022)
DipteraDiptera Index Flies Pollinators and Flies The Eyes of Flies Australian Sheep Blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) Australian Drain Fly Balaana Beefly Bat Flies Bee Flies Bee Fly (Anthrax) Australiphthiria Ligyra Neosardus cosmus Chrysomya saffranea Clogmia (Moth Fly) Eristalinus punctulatus Musca Odontomyia (Soldier Flies) Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly) Robber Flies Sarcophaga aurifrons Soldier Fly Syrphidae Syrphids Common Halfband (Melangyna viridiceps) Yellow-shouldered Stout Hover Fly (Simosyrphus grandicornis)
InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub