LIBRARY

DIPTERA 807
(= Chrysomyia), Cordylobia Grunberg, Cynomya R-D., Lucilia R-D., Nitellia
R-D., Onesia R-D., Phormia R,-D., Pollenia R-D., Protocalliphora Hough,
Pycnosoma Brauer and Berg., and Rhinia R-D. It is not possible to discuss all
the important species under each genus, so it seems best to list them in groups
according to host requirements.
The brilliant metallic blue and green adults of a number of genera are
familiar to all and are commonly known as "bluebottles" and "greenbottles"
throughout the British Empire and as "bluebottle flies" and "greenbottle
flies" in the United States. The most important and best known species are the
common bluebottle flies, Calliphora erythrocephala (Meig.) and C. vomitoria
(Linn.), which are large active bristly flies about 10 mm. long. They are saprophagous
and widely distributed in Europe and North America. The first is
also carnivorous and is nearly cosmopolitan in distribution. C. auronolata
Macq. and C. quadrimaculata Swederus are common in Australia. Chretopollenia
vespillo (Fab.) , Micronitellia varia (Meig.), Nitellia atromentaria (Meig.), the
cluster fly, Pollenia rudis (Fab.), and Trichopollenia vagabunda (Meig.), and
other species of these genera are parasitic on earthworms in Europe and some
in North America. Onesia sepulchralis (Meig.) is carnivorous on snails and
slugs in Europe. The larvre of Protocalliphora sordida (Meig.), P. azurea (Fallen)
(Phormia), and other species occur in the nests of birds and suck blood from the
nestlings, often killing them. Domestic and wild birds are subject to their
attacks.
The most important role played by some of these flies is the infestation of
sheep caused by the adults ovipositing in soiled wool about the hind quarters
and the larvre attacking the flesh. Very great injury and death may result
from their persistent and continued attacks, especially in Australia and New
Zealand where the insects are most injurious. The most important species
involved are Calliphora augur (Fab.), C. australis Boisduval. C. jaUax Hardy,
C. stygia (Fab.), and the greenbottle flies, LuciUa cuprina Wied. and L. sericala
(Meig.). Many members of the genus Chrysomya R.-D. also cause cutaneous
myiasis and infest sheep. The most important species are C. megacephala
(Fab.), a domestic fly abundant in the Oriental. Australian, and Oceanian
regions, and China. and C. micropogon Bigot, C. albiceps (Wied.), and C.1)aripes
Macq. which are secondary sheep maggots in Australia. The most important
North and South American species is the screw wonn, Cochliomyia americana
Cushing and Patton, dark bluish-green with three dark prenotal vittre, yellow
or reddish face and 5-8 nun. long. The female Qviposits in wounds and open
sores of man and domestic and wild animals and causes very severe myiasis
which may result in death to the host. The related C. macellaria (Fab.) is
now thought to be a scavenger. The black blowfly, Phormia regina (Meig.),
7-8 mm. long, and the greenbottle fly, Lucilia sericata (Meig.), occurring in
Europe and North America, are responsible for maggoty sheep in the western
United States. .
The two important widely distributed species attacking man in Africa are
the Congo floor fly, AuchmeromYia luteola (Fab.) and the tumbu fly, Cordylobia