Stats

Lifespan: 2-3 weeks
Size: Small
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Temperate grassland
Range: Africa
Movement: Flight
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Speed
Status: Uncommon

About

Recognizable by its shimmering metallic green body, this sun-loving fly is a common sight across the warm grasslands of Australia. It uses its keen sense of smell to find food and helps keep the environment clean by recycling organic materials.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2.
juvenile
An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3.
subadult
A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4.
adult
Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Calliphoridae
Genus: Lucilia
Species: Lucilia cuprina