Calliphora quadrimaculata
This handsomely coloured species is New Zealand’s only endemic Calliphora and our largest blowfly species.
It is a beautiful metallic violet or blue green blowfly with a golden head. It is one of only and handful of carrion-breeding flies endemic to New Zealand. It has unique fuzzy eyes and a golden spiracle which all add to its striking appearance.
While it has an unsavoury breeding medium, it is agriculturally and forensically important. Its fuzzy body can trap pollen, which means it can pollinate many plants.
Calliphora quadrimaculata is an endemic and common blowfly in New Zealand, it has been observed to be involved in flystrike. The adults are particularly active in the height of summer and are attracted in large numbers to the decomposing remains of animals. The larvae of this species have been recorded on carrion but captive reared maggots have reached adulthood on a diet of beef mince. There is a single unconfirmed report that the larvae are also able to reach maturity by feeding on wet fermenting leaf sheaths of broad-leaved snow tussock, but this has never been empirically confirmed.
Calliphora quadrimaculata is endemic to New Zealand and is widespread throughout both the North and South Islands. It mostly occurs in natural remnant forests, and is rarer in urban settings.
Check these links for more info on the Blue Blow Fly in NZ
Wikipedia: Information on Calliphora quadrimaculata
Tūhura Otago Museum: Have you got the blue fly blues?
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