Blow flies are so called because they
were believed to "blow" their
eggs, or larvae on to exposed meats. It
is a general description of a number of
species of large buzzing flies, which include
the Bluebottle, the Greenbottle and the
Flesh Fly. They all like sunlight and are
attracted to meat or carrion, and all may
be found around dustbins in hot summer weather.
Their feeding habits (they vomit onto food
to soften it up) and filthy feet, infect
food, especially meat products, as they
feed or seek egg-laying sites. Their Latin
names indicate their habits; Calliphora
vomitoria, Sarcophaga carnaria and Cyanomyia
cadaverina are but three members of the
group with a great capacity for transmitting
the bacterial agents of food poisoning.
