Invertebrates
Common Greenbottle
Lucilia sericata · also called green bottle fly
Within minutes of a death in a summer field, a common greenbottle drops out of the air, a flash of metallic green drawn by the smell of carrion.
Overview
The common greenbottle, Lucilia sericata, is a metallic green blow fly found across the world, particularly in temperate regions. Its maggots, which feed on dead flesh, make it a vital recycler, a clue in forensic investigations, and a tool in modern wound care.
An insect with a medical career
Because greenbottle maggots eat only dead tissue, sterilised maggots are used in hospitals to clean stubborn wounds, a modern use of an ancient treatment.
Status
Not Evaluated, and abundant worldwide.
Common Greenbottle: common questions
What are maggots used for in medicine?
Sterilised greenbottle maggots are used to clean wounds, because they eat dead tissue and leave the healthy tissue to heal.
How do greenbottles help in forensic science?
The age of the maggots and the stage of their development help forensic scientists to estimate the time since death.
What is flystrike?
It is a serious condition in sheep, in which blow flies such as the greenbottle lay eggs on the soiled fleece and the maggots attack the skin.
Where is the common greenbottle found?
It lives across much of the world, particularly in temperate regions, in gardens, farmland, and anywhere with carrion.