Blow flies (Calliphoridae) have a distinct shiny blue, copper, or green coloration and tend to be larger than house flies. They are associated with dead animals but they may also be found in garbage, dog droppings, dead snails, fish, decaying fruit and vegetable waste, and occasionally in animal manure. In the Coachella Valley, the life cycle ranges from eight to twenty-one days with adults appearing in higher numbers during the spring.