Widespread in temperate regions and established in many parts of the world.
Fine-art photographic collection
Calliphora vicina
A cold-tolerant blow fly whose development can become a clock in a death investigation.
About this species
Calliphora vicinaRobineau-Desvoidy, 1830
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Calliphora vicina often reaches remains early in cool temperate conditions. Because its growth responds predictably to temperature, forensic entomologists use the age of larvae and pupae to estimate the minimum time since colonisation.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Diptera · Calliphoridae · Calliphora
Accepted species. The common-name field is left blank because several overlapping English names are used. · checked 2026-07-15
Temperate regions worldwideBroad documented range and selected reference localities — not a complete occurrence map.
Urban, rural and woodland settings where carrion or other animal material is available.
Adults are active in cool as well as mild conditions.
Larvae develop in carrion and other decomposing animal material; adults feed on liquids and visit flowers.
Solitary, with larvae aggregating on food resources.
What makes this species remarkable?
A mother exposed to shortening days can program her offspring to enter diapause, pausing larval development before winter.
Diapausing larvae switch on a distinctive set of stress-response genes and survive cold exposure better than actively developing larvae.
Investigators can combine larval size with the temperature history of a scene to estimate when the first eggs were laid.
More photographs
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