Posted by Warren on 07-12-2009 20:55
#1
Don't worry - the question isn't as broad as the title implies. I'm in a wellsite trailer near Hythe, Alberta with a bunch of flies that have been buzzing around for two weeks. One is a Greenbottle (Lucilia) and the others are Picture-Winged Flies (Ceroxys latiusculus). The outside temperature is -30 C/-22 F. I suspect the flies were dormant until the shack was warmed up from storage for this job. I don't know how old they were when they entered the shack, but they're at least two weeks old now. I don't think they've had anything to eat although there is water available in the sink. Many flies have died but some are still alive. How long can they live?
Posted by paqui on 23-12-2009 01:51
#2
Hello, I“ve looked at a small nice book for beginners, the NH one for Calliphoridae (Erzinēlioglu). It says overwintering ones could live 6 or even 12 months and in laboratory about 6 weeks or 2 months; others in a cage outdoors up to 76 days. No idea about how they survive awake, any dead animal near?
Regards