Jon SullivanAug 7, 2025

Behold, Rango Pango!

That's the Māori name for this elegant native New Zealand blowfly. The fly is mostly black with a big shiny blue abdomen.

This rango pango landed on a student during our weekend field trip up in the North Canterbury mountains. She (the student) was kind enough to stay still while I photographed it.

Unlike most blowflies, rango pango maggots can grow up on rotting plant material as well as animal carcasses. The adult flies are pollinators of many plants.

This is the third observation on iNat of this species from the North Canterbury Southern Alps.

https://inaturalist.nz/observations/304190384

#flies #Diptera #NZ #Calliphora #Calliphoridae #blowflies #iNaturalist #insects

Show threadearthlingMay 7, 2025

@alexwild

Here's an interview with one.

#Blowflies
#politicians
#cartoons
#Leunig
#humour

CellBioNewsAug 4, 2024

#Blowflies found to carry #bird_flu #virus.

#H5N1 #Calliphora #vector

https://phys.org/news/2024-08-blowflies-bird-flu-virus.html

Blowflies found to carry bird flu virus

Researchers from Kyushu University have discovered that blowflies, a family of flies strongly attracted to decaying flesh and feces, are carrying the bird flu virus in southern Japan. Their findings, published in Scientific Reports, introduce a potential new route of transmission for bird flu and highlight the need to develop new countermeasures to prevent and control the disease in poultry farms.

Phys.org
michaelAug 2, 2024

1-AUG-2024
Tiny flyers with large impact: #Blowflies carry bird flu virus
A new study from a wild bird colony in southern Japan reveals that blowflies are a potential means of #birdFlu transmission.

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1053291

#science #AvianInfluenza #ZoonoticDisease #flu #PublicHealth

Tiny flyers with large impact: Blowflies carry bird flu virus

Researchers from Kyushu University have discovered that blowflies, a family of flies strongly attracted to decaying flesh and feces, are carrying the bird flu virus in southern Japan. Their findings, published in Scientific Reports, introduce a potential new route of transmission for bird flu and highlight the need to develop new countermeasures to prevent and control the disease in poultry farms.

EurekAlert!
Giuseppe MichieliMay 4, 2024

#Blowflies are potential #vector for avian #influenza virus at #enzootic area in #Japan, Sci Rep.: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-61026-1

Our observations suggest C. nigribarbis may acquire the HPAI virus from deceased wild #birds directly or from #fecal materials from infected birds, highlighting the need to add blowflies as a target of HPAI vector control.

Blowflies are potential vector for avian influenza virus at enzootic area in Japan - Scientific Reports

High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) poses a significant threat to both domestic and wild birds globally. The avian influenza virus, known for environmental contamination and subsequent oral infection in birds, necessitates careful consideration of alternative introduction routes during HPAI outbreaks. This study focuses on blowflies (genus Calliphora), in particular Calliphora nigribarbis, attracted to decaying animals and feces, which migrate to lowland areas of Japan from northern or mountainous regions in early winter, coinciding with HPAI season. Our investigation aims to delineate the role of blowflies as HPAI vectors by conducting a virus prevalence survey in a wild bird HPAI-enzootic area. In December 2022, 648 Calliphora nigribarbis were collected. Influenza virus RT-PCR testing identified 14 virus-positive samples (2.2% prevalence), with the highest occurrence observed near the crane colony (14.9%). Subtyping revealed the presence of H5N1 and HxN1 in some samples. Subsequent collections in December 2023 identified one HPAI virus-positive specimen from 608 collected flies in total, underscoring the potential involvement of blowflies in HPAI transmission. Our observations suggest C. nigribarbis may acquire the HPAI virus from deceased wild birds directly or from fecal materials from infected birds, highlighting the need to add blowflies as a target of HPAI vector control.

Nature
Lukas VFN 🇪🇺Dec 20, 2022

Research reveals which animals perceive time the fastest https://phys.org/news/2022-12-reveals-animals-fastest.html

#Animals that perceive time the fastest are those that are small, can fly, or are marine #predators.

#BlowFlies, #Dragonflies were able to detect changes at the highest rate, with vision that could handle 300hz (300 times a second), significantly faster than humans (65hz).

In #vertebrates, the fastest eyes belonged to the pied #FlyCatchers which could see at 146hz. #Salmon clocked in at 96hz and #Dogs at 75hz.

Research reveals which animals perceive time the fastest

New research reveals that the animals that perceive time the fastest are those that are small, can fly, or are marine predators.

Phys.org