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Calliphora varifrons

Lateral view

Australian distribution

Taxonomy

Family: Calliphoridae

Subfamily: Calliphorinae

Genus: Calliphora Robineau-Desvoidy 1830

Subgenus: Paracalliphora Townsend 1916

Species: varifrons Malloch 1932

 

The immature stages are unknown.

Biology

Calliphora varifrons is an ovoviviparous species that breeds readily in carrion. It probably inhabits a niche similar to its eastern analogue, Calliphora hilli hilli. Monzu (1977) reported C. varifrons ovipositing on a wallaby carcass soon after death, with larvae leaving the carcass after 4 to 6 days. Early carcass colonisation by C. varifrons minimises resource competition from other species, such as Caliphora albifrontalis, which typically colonise a carcass when C. varifrons larvae are finished feeding and are pupating (Monzu 1977).

Distribution

Calliphora varifrons is distributed throughout south-western Australia, only being recorded from the state of Western Australia.

Relevant Literature

Monzu, N. (1977) Coexistence of carrion-breeding Calliphoridae (Diptera) in Western Australia. PhD Thesis, University of Western Australia.