Taxonomy

Family: Calliphoridae

Subfamily: Chrysomyinae

Genus: Chrysomya Robineau Desvoidy 1830

Species: saffranea (Bigot 1877)

The first- and second-instar larvae were described by O'Flynn and Moorhouse (1980). The third instar larva was described by Erzinçlioglu (1984).

Biology

Chrysomya saffranea is the sister species of Chrysomya megacephala. The species acts as a primary invader of carrion, however, in the southern areas of its distribution, it is more likely to behave as a secondary fly (O'Flynn and Moorhouse 1979).

The two are extremely similar morphologically, with Ch. saffranea distinguished by orange supravibrissal and subvibrissal setulae. Chrysomya saffranea and Ch. megacephala males have eyes with enlarged ommatidia in the upper two-thirds, however, in Ch. megacephala the upper two-thirds are sharply demarcated from the smaller ones in the lower third, whereas they are not sharply demarcated in Ch. saffranea (see picture). To determine the gender of your fly click here.

Distribution

Chrysomya saffranea has been recorded from the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia.

Relevant Literature

Erzinçlioglu, Y.Z. (1984) Studies on the morphology and taxonomy of the immature stages of Calliphoridae, with analysis of phylogenetic relationships within the family, and between it and other groups in the Cyclorrhapha (Diptera). Ph.D., University of Durham.

Nelson, L.A., Dowton, M. and Wallman, J.F. (2009) Thermal attributes of Chrysomya species. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 133, 260-275.

O'Flynn, M.A. (1983) The succession and rate of development of blowflies in southern Queensland and the application of these data to forensic entomology. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 22, 137-148.

O'Flynn, M.A. and Moorhouse, D.E. (1979) Species of Chrysomya as primary flies in carrion. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 18, 31-32.

O'Flynn, M.A. and Moorhouse, D.E. (1980) Identification of early immature stages of some common Queensland carrion flies. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 19, 53-61.