Blue Blowfly Calliphora vicina

Photo of Blue Blowfly (Calliphora vicina)

(c) Maureen Howard, some rights reserved (CC BY)

OrderFlies (Diptera)
FamilyBlow Flies (Calliphoridae)
GenusBluebottle Flies (Calliphora)

These blue blowflies are forensic celebrities for good reason: they arrive at bodies in remarkably consistent timeframes, allowing investigators to establish precise timelines. Currently one of the most important species in forensic entomology, they've literally solved murders simply by following their natural life cycle. Their predictable behavior has made them indispensable in criminal investigations, proving that understanding insect biology can be as crucial to justice as fingerprints or DNA.

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