Blow Fly Facts & Information

The adult blow fly grows slightly larger than the house fly; between 1/8th and 5/8th of an inch in length. They can be metallic green, blue, black, or bronze in color. The blow fly’s worm-like larvae (maggots) are pale yellow to white in color. They are strong daytime fliers and are most active on sunny days. They are difficult to control but if you call the correct fly exterminator, they can give you many strategies you can perform to mitigate all flies in your home or business.As with most insects, the blow fly goes through a full metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult), though this particular fly species develops through three larval stages.

Once a female blow fly lays eggs in an animal carcass (she must consume protein first), wound, eyes, ears or nose, the first-stage larvae can hatch within 24 to 48 hours. Eggs are laid typically during the winter. Larvae develop through a second and third stage before pupating and then later emerging as adults.The full blow fly life cycle can take two to three weeks from egg to adult to complete, and most adults live from two weeks to a month.

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