COMMON NAME

Snail Parasite Blowfly

Order

Suborder

Family

Genus

Species

Alias

Diptera

Calliphoridae

Amenia imperialis

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Description

Flies in the family Calliphoridae are referred to as blow flies. Many are brightly coloured and even the browny colored ones have a slight iridescent sheen with bristles over their abdomen. This blow fly has a bright yellow head, with iridescent, metallic blue-green body. There is also a very similar blow fly but the snail parasite can be distinguished by silvery spots along the side of its thorax. The adults feed on nectar.

Adult size: 12 mm

Out and about

Often found in warmer weather. I photographed this one in summer. I would expect that in warmer climates, they are around all year considering that snails are always about. There are approximately 1200 species of blow flies worldwide in tropical and temperate climates. All flies in the genus Amenia are native to Australia and this species is found on the east coast mainly in New South Wales but also in Queensland and into Victoria.

Reproduction and Life cycle

The females lay eggs on the snails and the larvae feed on them.

To deter

To control

Plants to repel

Plants to attract

Anthemis / Buckwheat / Lemon balm / Pennyroyal / Parsley / Phacelia / Tansy / Crimson Thyme / Coriander / White clover / Alyssum / Marigold / Yarrows

Predators

Why they are Beneficial

The larvae (maggots) are parasitic. Most blow flies lay eggs in carrion, others lay eggs on living animals. The Australian Sheep Blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) can cause serious trouble to sheep.

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