A genus of large blowflies commonly found around decaying animal matter, often used in forensic investigations to determine time of death.
From Greek 'kallos' (beauty) and 'phora' (bearing/carrying), literally 'beauty-bearing.' The name is ironic given these flies' association with decomposition. The genus was formally named in the 19th century by entomologists.
Calliphora flies are forensic superheroes—by studying their life cycle and which species arrive at a body first, scientists can pinpoint exactly when someone died, sometimes down to the hour. Their larvae are so effective at consuming tissue that they've even been used medically to clean infected wounds in hospitals.
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