Bluebottle blow fly

Common around carrion, garbage, animal waste, and decaying organic matter; often enters buildings. It is widespread in temperate regions.

Adults feed on liquids from carrion, feces, nectar, and other decaying materials. Larvae consume decomposing animal tissue.

Adults locate carrion by smell and lay eggs in carcasses or other organic matter. Larvae develop through three stages, then leave the food source to pupate in nearby soil or sheltered debris.

Adults can mechanically spread pathogens and may contaminate food; larvae occasionally cause myiasis. They are important decomposers and aid forensic estimates of time since death.