(Lucilia ssp.)
Biology:
Gold flies are about 10 mm in size. The animals have a shiny golden-green coloration. Some of the fly maggots can still develop at refrigerator temperatures. Their way of life is similar to that of the blow fly.
The larvae of the gold fly are known commercially as “pinky maggots”. They are used as fishing bait and are also a popular food in terraristics.
Germ-free “pinky maggots” cultivated in special laboratories can be used for wound therapy. This form of treatment was pushed back with the discovery of penicillin, but has been used again in medical practice for several years. It may take some getting used to for patients, but the treatment is successful and is becoming increasingly important as antibiotic resistance grows.
Damage:
The damage is similar to that of the blowfly. The gold fly is considered both a nuisance and an important hygiene pest, as the females lay their eggs specifically on animal foodstuffs. As a result, the gold fly plays an important role in the spread of human pathogens that can cause salmonellosis, typhoid fever, parathyphoid fever, summer diarrhea and cholera.
