2.  Calliphoridae adults are commonly shiny with metallic colouring, often with blue, green, or black thoraces and abdomens. Antennae are three-segmented and aristate. The arista are plumose the entire length, and the second antennal segment is distinctly grooved. Members of Calliphoridae have branched Rs 2 veins, frontal sutures are present, and calypters are well developed.Antennaearistafrontal suturescalypters

3.  The characteristics and arrangement of hairlike bristles are used to tell the difference between members of this family. All blow flies have bristles located on the meron. Having two notopleural bristles and a hindmost posthumeral bristle located lateral to presutural bristle are characteristics to look for when identifying this family.arrangement of hairlike bristles  The thorax has the continuous dorsal suture across the middle, along with well-defined posterior calli. The postscutellum is absent or weakly developed. The costa is unbroken and the subcosta is apparent on the insect

4. Blowflies - Family Calliphoridae

5. Blowfly Larvae

6. Generalized Fly Life Cycle ► Eggs ► present in clumps of up to 300 ► laying to hatching takes 1 day ► Larva - 1st instar ► initially feeds on fluid exuded from the body ► migrates into body ► hatching to first molt takes 1 day ► Larva - 2nd instar ► moves around in maggot mass ► first molt to second molt takes 1 day ► Larva - 3rd instar ► still moves in mass ► greatly increases in size ► second molt to pre-pupa takes 2 days ► Pre-pupa ► migrates away from the corpse seeking a suitable pupation site ► does not feed ► transforms into pupa ► pre-pupa to pupa takes 4 days ► Pupa ► resides within puparium ► undergoes transformation from larval body form adult fly ► does not feed ► pupa to emergence takes 10 days ► Adult fly ► mates on emergence from pupa ► feeds on protein from body fluids ► lays eggs on corpse ► emergence to egg laying takes 2 days

7. The Most Common Application Relates to Death Investigations ► Determining PMI – postmortem interval ► Movement of the corpse ► Manner and cause of death ► Association of suspects with the death scene ► Detection of toxins or drugs through analysis of insect larvae