Common Green Bottle Fly - Life Cycle

Life Cycle

The life cycle of Lucilia sericata is typical of flies in the family Calliphoridae in that the egg hatches into a larva that passes through three instars, enters a prepupal and then a pupal stage before emerging into the adult stage or imago. The female lays a mass of eggs in a wound, a carcass or corpse, or in necrotic or decaying tissue. The eggs hatch out in about 8–10 hours in warm moist weather, but may take as long as three days in cooler weather. In this they differ from the more opportunistic Sarcophagidae, that lay hatching or completely hatched eggs. A single female L. sericata may produce 100 to 200 eggs in its lifetime. The pale yellow or grayish conical larvae, like those of most blowflies, have two posterior spiracles through which they respire. These larvae are moderately sized, ranging from 10 to 14 millimeters long.

The larva feeds on dead or necrotic tissue for about 3 to 10 days, depending on temperature and the quality of the food. During this period the larva passes through 3 larval instars. At a temperature of 16˚C the first larval instar lasts about 53 hours, the second about 42 hours and the third about 98 hours. At higher temperatures (27˚C) the first larval instar lasts about 31 hours, the second about 12 hours, and the third about 40 hours. Third instar larvae then drop off the host onto soil, where available, where they will enter a pupal stage which usually lasts from 6 to 14 days. However, if the temperature is suitably low, a pupa might overwinter in the soil until the temperature rises. After emerging from the pupa the adult will feed opportunistically on nectar or other suitable food, such as carrion, while it matures. Adults usually lay eggs about 2 weeks after they emerge. Their total life cycle typically ranges from 2 to 3 weeks, but this varies with seasonal and other circumstances. L. sericata usually completes 3 or 4 generations each year in cold temperate climates, and more in warmer regions.