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Texas A& M Entomology
A blow fly, Calliphora sp. (Diptera: Calliphoridae).
Photo by Drees.
Description:
They are found worldwide, occurring nearly every place inhabited by people.
The name blow fly comes from the bloated condition of the rotting animal
carcasses that their larvae, known as maggots, infest. The most frequent
species found under these conditions is the common blow fly.
These flies are common in populated areas and are may be found near meat-processing
plants, garage dumps and slaughterhouses.
Blow Flies also include a number of species including the common bluebottle
fly, Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus) the green bottlefly,
Phaenicia sericata (Meigen) and others.
Blow flies are slightly larger than true house
flies, and the bodies of many are metallic blue or green in color. Worldwide,
there are about 1200 species of blow flies, and in North America there are
80. In many areas such as the American Southwest, blow flies are the most
common type of flies found in and around houses and other human habitations.
Blow flies range in length from 7 to 16 mm (0.28 to 0.63 in); they have
robust bodies and wide heads.
Biology and Habits:
Blow Fly, any of a large family of flies known for the habit of the larvae,
or immature flies of, infesting animal carcasses.
Adult blow flies feed primarily on flower nectar, plant sap, and other sugary
materials. The female blow fly typically lays her eggs on the body of a
recently killed animal. The eggs hatch quickly and the maggots then feed
on the decaying tissues. In warm weather, some species can complete their
larval growth within a week. They then burrow into the soil and pupate,
to emerge later as adult flies. Blow flies play an essential role in nature
by decomposing dead tissue. The species of blow fly is an exception: its
larvae prey on earthworms.
Blow flies have played a role in medicine: species such as the green bottle
fly and the black blow fly were once commonly used to clean open wounds
in humans because the maggots tend to feed only on decayed tissue. The maggots
then feed on the animal's healthy tissue. Because blow flies routinely move
between dead animals or dung and human habitats, they may transmit disease
organisms to people, including the bacteria that cause dysentery, typhus,
and cholera.
Blow Fly Inspection
Eggs are usually laid on meat or dead animals, although they may be
placed in decaying vegetable material when meat is not available.
Some blow fly species, such as the screw worm fly, lay their eggs on living
animals.
Most of these flies found indoors originate from an outside source because
of their breeding preferences.
Garbage cans are a huge source for blow flies. Single cans have produced
more than 30,0000 flies in a week.
If there is a large number of blow flies inside, it most likely is a sign
of a dead rodent or bird.
Finding the source of the animal or bird is often more difficult because
it has been dead several weeks by the time the flies appear.
If a dead animal odor is present, it may help narrow the search area.
Look for signs of dead rodents or birds that may have been living in walls
or crawl spaces, or even living in lower cabinets and under major appliances.
Fly larvae often will crawl along a wall until they encounter a corner
where they then pupate.
Numerous pupae in a corner indicate the breeding source is near.
If the flies are found inside the light covers in the ceiling, it means
the flies emerged either in the ceiling or from the wall. The breeding
source might be either in the ceiling or a wall. Outdoors, inspect the
area for dead animals; any nearby dumpsters or other garbage containers
should be inspected.
Recommended Control and Elimination Measures
Exclusion
and Sanitation, Insecticides, Traps, and Aerosols
1. Exclusion
and Sanitation:
- Sanitation
is the first measure of defense, even though there are various traps
and sprays that are used to kill flies, it is necessary to eliminate
the source in order to eliminate them.
- Whenever
possible, food and materials on which the flies can lay their eggs must
be removed, destroyed, as a breeding medium, or isolated from the egg-laying
adult. Killing adult flies will reduce infestation, but elimination
of breeding areas is necessary for good management.
- The key
to controlling these infestations is to locate and eliminate their breeding
sources.
.
- Garbage
cans and dumpsters should have tight-fitting lids and be cleaned regularly.
- Drainage
will often aid control, getting rid of extra moisture.
- Openings
of buildings should be tightly screened with screen.
.
2. Insecticides : Residual, Aerosols, and Fogging
House flies rest on sunny surfaces in the daytime, and have a tendency
to come inside or under eaves at night. These areas where the flies are
resting can be sprayed with residual or contact insecticides.
The flies rest on the sprayed surface and pick up enough insecticide to
kill them.
When spraying the surfaces, it should be wet enough to the point of runoff,
but not enough to form puddles.
Residual Insecticides:
DEMON
WP 
or  Cynoff
WP are wettable powders, mixed with water to spray exterior
surfaces where flies would land, sprayed once a month.
Aerosols
Hand held space sprays for a quick knock down would be pyrethrin contact
aerosols:
 V TECH MIST
METERED FLYING INSECT KILLER / AUTOMATIC
AIR GUARD DISPENSER is an automatic dispenser to be used
with the the V Tech Mist Metered Insect Killer.
The V Tech Mist Metered aerosol will last 30 days.
Fogging Insecticides-Non Residual
If you find that fogging inside a building would be neccessary, we also
carry fogging material and professional fogger equipment:
 FOGGING
MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT
3. Trapping-Glue and Outside
 FLY
PAPER-1 ribbon=3 ft.x1 inch strip of sticky paper .
 WINDOW
FLY TRAP-allows you to use a trap to stick on the window, without
using an insecticide.
 ADVANTAGE
FLY TRAP is an excellent trap for the outside, with a unique attractant
lure included.
It will trap house flies, blow flies and a broad range of other fly species:
3. Electronic traps:
Inside Use
These electronic
fly traps are very efficient and functional
 INSECTALITE
18 WATT FLY TRAP and the  INSECTALITE
30 WATT PROFESSIONAL FLY TRAP
 Insectakill
Fly Traps-Insectakill Zappers- 30,40, 80 Watt Models-White Metal and
Stainless Steel
Click Here: All
Electronic Fly Traps
4. Fly Baits :
Insecticide baits such as Maxforce
Fly Bait or Stimukill
Fly Bait can be used to aid in house-fly control.
The baits should be distributed along walls, window sills or other areas
where flies congregate inside buildings, and in areas outside where flies
congregate.
As with all fly control, sanitation is very important when using a fly
bait. Remove trash and other breeding sources, so the Fly bait will be
there only feeding source.
Make sure the baits are inaccessible to animals or children. Recommended
fly baits would be:
MAXFORCE
FLY BAIT
Stimukil
Fly Bait 
 Use Apache Fly Bait Stations to hold the Fly Baits
Place the Advantage fly trap and the fly baits
away from areas that you want to see flies, in that they have attractants
that will draw the flies.
You will want to place the Advantage trap in sunny area on cooler days
and shady areas on warmer days. The Advantage trap is designed to be hung.
Call for further information as each situation is very different with
perhaps different product recommendations.
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