[ID] Greenbottles - colour form?

[Jason Green]

Hi WAB'ers,

I photographed these two greenbottles last year...


Greenbottles
Lucilia sp., unusual colour form?

Can anyone explain why the upper one appears to be a goldy-brown?

Take care,

Jason

[Bruce Williams]

Jason - Maybe the bottom fly is just plain envious of the top fly's great holiday tan.

Bruce

[Dogghound]

The fly at the top is older, several species of fly do this. As it gets older and is more exposed to sunlight the cuticle refracts light in a different way. The text book example of this colour change is in the Tachnid Gymnochaeta viridis . Also you can see its older by the condition of its wings.

[Hedge Witch]

So Bruce was half right Well I never.

[Jason Green]

Interesting, thanks Dogghound, Bruce and Hedge Witch

[Paul mabbott]

Interesting topic and pics. I know nothing about flies but don't some have different colours male-female (sexual dimorphism) and don't some species have green/blue variants - or are they also ageing things?

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Interesting topic and pics. I know nothing about flies but don't some have different colours male-female (sexual dimorphism) and don't some species have green/blue variants - or are they also ageing things?

Yes in some species this occurs, it is such a large group these traits are common. In Lucilia sp is predominanty due to the age, but yes you will get variance in colour in individuals and differences in colour in relation to age at different speeds, i.e. some will darken sooner.

[squishy]

oh yes! if you look at the edge of the wing, its all shredded and worn.

thanks for sharing that information dogghound, and thanks for bringing this topic up jason