Common Green Bottle Fly

Found worldwide in temperate and tropical regions, typically near dwellings, livestock, and decomposing organic matter.

Adults feed on nectar, honeydew, and liquid from decomposing organic matter; larvae (maggots) feed on necrotic or decaying flesh.

Diurnal and highly active in sunny conditions. They have a rapid life cycle and are among the first insects to arrive at a carcass to lay eggs (oviposit).

Risks: Can transmit pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli to food. Benefits: Crucial decomposers and important in forensic entomology for determining time of death; larvae are sometimes used in medically supervised maggot therapy to clean non-healing wounds.