calliphoridae

• SUBORDER CYCLORRHAPHA

  • FAMILY MUSCIDAE
  • FAMILY GLOSSINIDAE
  • FAMILY CALLIPHORIDAE
  • FAMILY OESTRIDAE
  • FAMILY CUTEREBRIDAE
  • FAMILY CALLIPHORIDAE
• Blowflies

  Often metallic, blue or green
• Blowfly larvae

  • Sarcophagus, flesh-feeders or parasites of other arthropods - myiasis flies
  • Bristly and are characterized by the presence of a row of bristle on the hypopleuron (HYPOPLEURAL BRISTLES), which are placed like a screen on either side, in front of the metathoracic spiracles
• SUBFAMILIES

  • CALLIPHORINAE
  • SARCHOPHAGINAE
• Life cycle of blowflies

  1. Eggs in clusters in carcasses, wounds or soiled wool hatch in 18 hrs to 10 days

  2. Larvae (maggots) molt 2x in 2-19 days

  3. Adult emerge from pupal stage after 3-7 days
• Life cycle of blowflies

  • Completed in 2-5 weeks
  • Life span approx. 1 month
  • 9-10 generations per year
• GENERA

  • Lucilia spp.
  • Calliphora spp.
  • Phormia spp.
  • Chrysomyia spp.
  • Callitroga spp.
  • Cordylobia spp.
  • Booponus spp.
• Lucilia spp.

  • COMMON NAME: COPPER OR GREEN BOTTLE FLY
  • Have a bright metallic colors (bright green/bronze)
  • Eyes are brownish-red
  • Body is relatively slender (8-10mm long)
  • PRIMARY STRIKE - causing flies, prefer living sheep than to carrion
• Calliphora spp.

  • COMMON NAME: BLUE BOTTLE FLY
  • Body with a metallic blue sheen
  • PRIMARY STRIKE causing flies
  • Large, stoutly built (12 mm long), buzzes loudly when at flight
  • Eyes are red
• Chrysomia spp.

  • COMMON NAME: OLD WORLD SCREW-WORM FLY
  • Bluish green with 4 black sstripes on the prescutum
  • Face is orange-yellow
  • Medium sized and stout
  • Specific or obligate myiasis-causing flies
• Blow fly strike


  • Myiasis caused by members of these genera in sheep
  • Strike is the term for the action of a fly laying its eggs or larvae on an animal
• Factors influencing blow fly strike

  • Prevalence of flies
  • Susceptibility of the sheep
• Classification as to the Order of Succession

  • L. cuprina & L. sericata
  • Calliphora augur, C. australis & C. falax
  • Chrysomia rufifacies & C. micropogon
  • Sarcophaga spp (Carrion flies)
  • Musca domestica
  • Fannia australis
• Breech strike / Crutch strike

  
  

  
  

  Most common location
• Pathogenesis of blow fly strike

  • Initial wounds are due to injury or blood sucking flies or larvae of primary myiasis fly
  • Myiasis larvae enlarge wounds by penetration and formation of subcutaneous tunnels
  • Foul smell of necrotizing tissue attracts other flies to feed and or lay eggs or larvae
  • Larvae cause irritation
  • Reduction of body condition toxemia or septicemia especially if there is secondary infection
• Clinical signs of blow fly strike

  • Uneasiness - stampeding
  • Depression-state or dejection
  • Decreased performance
  • Patches of discolored, foul smelling wool
  • Death in a few days (lightning strike)
• Prevention and treatment of blow fly strike

  • Prevent scouring
  • Clip wool and remove maggots manually
  • Disinfect wound
  • Apply insecticidal dressing, powder or spray or dip animals (Diclofenthion, CombinexⓇ)
  • Administer antibiotic if necessary
  • Render sheep less attractive to flies
  • Fly control
  • Proper disposal of carcasses
• Callitroga spp.

  • Larvae causes myiasis in cattle, pigs, equines, fowls, dogs and in man
  • A.k.a genus Cochliomyia
• Callitroga spp.

  • C. hominivorax
  • C. macellaria
• Callitroga spp. adults

  • COMMON NAME: SCREW WORM
  • 10-15 mm in length
  • Orange-brown face and eyes
  • Bluish-green body
  • Palps are short and thread-like
  • Antenna are feathered to their tips
  • Has 3 longitudinal stripes on thorax
• Cordylobia spp.

  • Myiasis producing fly of man, monkeys, dogs and small rodents
  • In Africa and south of Sahara
• Cordylobia spp.

  • C. anthropophaga
  • C. rodhaini
• C. anthropophaga

  • COMMON NAME: TUMBU FLY OR SKIN MAGGOT FLY
  • Stout, compactly built, about 9.5 mm in length
  • Light brown with diffuse bluish-grey patches on thorax; dry gray on posterior abdomen
• C. rodhaini

  • COMMON NAME: LUND'S FLY OR LARVA OF LUND
  • Main hosts are antelopes and giant rats, occasionally man
  • Resembles C. anthropophaga but is larger (12.5 mm length)
  • Found in rainforests of tropical Africa
• Tail strike- around the tail when the wool is soiled and the skin scalded by diarrheic feces and urine
• pizzle strike- in penis with narrow opening
• pool strike- in ram with deep head folds or with horns lying close to the head; develop 'sweaty' condition of the skin in these parts
• wound strike- in wounded areas
• body strike- due to prolonged wet weather resulting to FLEECE ROT
• TOXEMIA OR SEPTICEMIA- IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF DEATH, ALSO KNOWN AS LIGHTINING STRIKE