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iNaturalist | all galleries >> Galleries >> New > Screwworm Fly, Compsomyiops callipes, male
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21-OCT-2011

Screwworm Fly, Compsomyiops callipes, male

Family Calliphoridae: Blowflies, Bottle Flies and Screwworm Flies.

Female screwworm flies require a protein meal: they find and feed on fluids associated with wounds;
they also lay their eggs next to wounds. The larvae hatch within a few hours and bury into the wound.

The larvae of this species feed only on necrotic (dead) tissue, but some species in the
tropics burrow into healthy flesh, often causing severe damage to cattle and even humans.

Males feed on nectar. The proboscis appears to have some kind of sheath in front.

“Calli-“ in Greek means beautiful; in Latin, hardened (think “callous”). “Pes” = foot (L).
So the epithet means either hardened foot or beautiful foot, probably the former.


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Hennie & Lies Lammers15-Feb-2019 20:55
Beautiful sharp image with beautiful colors
Larry Umthun03-Jul-2013 02:28
Very nice macro image!
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