Bug FAQNew Zealand Blue Blowfly
Calliphora quadrimaculata · Order: Diptera · Family: Calliphoridae
Source: Wikipedia
The New Zealand blue blowfly is the largest native blowfly, measuring about 9.5 to 15 mm long. It lives throughout New Zealand and its outlying islands, feeding on decaying animals, plant matter and occasionally pollinating alpine hebe flowers. Its life cycle is short, about 20 to 25 days from egg to adult, and it mainly reproduces in the warm summer months, especially February.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The abdomen is black with a violet or blue-green metallic sheen and no dusting. The wing bases are darkened with a brown tint and the wing veins are brown.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults are 9.5 to 15 mm long, making them the largest native blowfly in New Zealand.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
They can transmit bacterial infections such as dysentery from animals to humans. While not a primary cause of myiasis, they may act as a secondary source.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They are found across the main islands of New Zealand and on the Chatham, Auckland, Stewart and Campbell Islands. Specimens from Auckland and Campbell Islands show a blue-green metallic abdomen instead of the typical violet sheen.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They mainly feed on decaying animal carcasses and plant material. In alpine areas they also visit hebe flowers for nectar, acting as pollinators.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Their life cycle is relatively short, lasting about 20 to 25 days from egg to adult.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Mating occurs mainly in the summer, especially in February, when temperatures support development.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is endemic to New Zealand.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
Can they spread disease to people?
Yes, they can carry and transfer bacterial infections like dysentery.
Source: Wikipedia
What do they eat?
They feed on decaying animal carcasses, plant tissue, and sometimes nectar from alpine hebe flowers.
Source: Wikipedia
When are they most active?
They mainly mate in the warm summer months, especially February.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Calliphoridae)
Common European Greenbottle FlyLucilia sericataNuisance, not dangerous
Blue BlowflyCalliphora vicinaCan spread germs or disease
Black Blow FlyPhormia reginaNuisance, not dangerous
Oriental Latrine FlyChrysomya megacephalaCan spread germs or disease
Australian Sheep Blow FlyLucilia cuprinaNuisance, not dangerous
Locust BlowflyStomorhina lunataSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calliphora_quadrimaculata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.