Bluebottle. Macrophotograph of the head of a bluebottle (family Calliphoridae) fly, showing its large compound eyes. Female bluebottles lay their eggs
Bluebottle. Macrophotograph of the head of a bluebottle (family Calliphoridae) fly, showing its large compound eyes. Female bluebottles lay their eggs on meat to ensure a plentiful supply of food for their larvae once hatched. Blue bottle fly adults feed on nectar, while the larvae feed on carcasses of dead animals. It is 10â14 millimetres (â in) long, slightly larger than a housefly. The head and thorax are dull gray and the abdomen is bright metallic blue with black markings. Its body and legs are covered with black bristle-like hair. It has short, clubbed antennae and 4 tarsi per leg. The chest is bright purple and has spikes to protect themselves against other flies. These insects like to fly in packs in order to detect possible prey more efficiently. If one fly detects food, it will disperse a pheromone which will alert the others to the meal.
Size: 4942px × 6408px
Photo credit: © DAVID PARKER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: abdomen, animal, animals, blowfly, blue, bluebottle, calliphoridae, carcass, carrion, closeup, compound, eggs, entomological, entomology, eye, eyes, fauna, fly, head, insect, insects, invertebrate, invertebrates, larvae, macro, macrophoto, meat, nectar
