luciliae

Luciliae is a taxonomic term sometimes used to refer to the genus Lucilia, a group of blowflies in the family Calliphoridae. The genus, commonly known as green bottle flies, includes many species that are typically metallic green, blue, or bronze and range in size from about 6 to 14 millimeters. They are found worldwide, with higher diversity in temperate and tropical regions, in habitats ranging from urban waste areas to pastures and forests.

Ecology and behavior: Lucilia species are primarily saprophagous, feeding on decaying organic matter. Adults feed on nectar and other liquids, while females lay eggs in carrion, feces, open wounds, or other decaying tissue. The larvae feed on decomposing matter and, in some cases, live tissue. The life cycle is a complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (with multiple instars), pupa, and adult. Development is strongly influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.

Significance: Lucilia flies have important roles in forensic entomology, where their colonization patterns on a corpse help estimate the postmortem interval. They are also economically significant as pests of livestock in some regions. In medicine, certain species, particularly Lucilia sericata, are used in maggot debridement therapy to help clean chronic wounds by consuming necrotic tissue.

Notable species: Lucilia sericata (green bottle fly), Lucilia cuprina (Australian sheep blowfly), and Lucilia illustris are among the better known representatives. Taxonomically, Lucilia is placed in the subfamily Luciliinae within Calliphoridae. The form Luciliae is not a distinct taxon but may appear in historical or informal texts as a plural or variant of Lucilia.