Phormia sp.

Phormia is a genus within the family Calliphoridae, the blow fly family. Thespecies, Phormia regina, is a well-studied species in the forensic entomology field. This species is attracted to feces to mate with one another. Females are then attracted to carrion for oviposition of eggs. Forensic entomologists then use the developmental stages of the larvae to estimate postmortem interval.  

Order: Diptera
Family: Calliphoridae
Species: Phormia sp.

Photograph: © 2016 RKD Peterson
Date of Photograph: 24 July 2016
Location: Montana, Gallatin Co. (45^o42'41" N 111^o08'11" W)