Pest Library » Blow Fly and Bottle Fly

Size:

Medium-sized flies from 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch in length.

Color:

Shiny, metallic blue, green, or copper, depending on the species.

Behavior:

Blow flies and bottle flies are important scavengers in nature as they are one of the first insects to reach a dead animal. These flies are part of the decomposition process that recycles nutrients back into the soil. The maggots of these flies may be used by forensic entomologists to place the time of death in murder cases. They also breed in garbage containers, dumpsters, and decaying vegetative matter (e.g., compost piles).