Interactions

        Provides food for other organisms:
        Lucilia sericata have many interactions with other organisms in the environment. This fly can be a possible meal for many different animals and even certain plants. Some of these organisms that feed upon Lucilia sericata include a venus fly trap,red eyes tree frog,or even a dragonfly. Humans can even use the maggots of this organism to attract animals. Fisherman will often use Lucilia sericata maggots to catch catfish and other types of fish.            
         Used as an intermediate host:
         A nematode called Syngamus trachea (Gapeworm) is a parasitic worm that infects the trachea of birds. This will cause respiratory distress in the bird that can then cause death. This nematode can use the larvae of Lucilia sericata as an intermediate host.  Turkeys and chickens are the most common birds that will become infected with gapeworm.   
         
Parasitic:
          The summers can be troublesome for the sheep population because of Lucilia sericata. This is commonly called fly strike, which is the infestation of sheep by maggots. Flies will lay their eggs on the wet wool that is usually contaminated with feces. Once the eggs hatch maggots with begin to feed on the surface of the skin and cause damage to the sheep. The strike of Lucilia sericata can infect up to one million sheep in just a year! Check out the website called strikewise that records daily temperatures and rainfall to forecast the likelihood that these flies will strike sheep. Another animal that this fly may strike an attack upon are rabbits.         

Mutualistic:
             Adult flies will often feed on flowering plants. As the flies move from one flower to another this creates pollination. The flower can then reproduce and the fly feasts on a nourishing meal. Both organisms will benefit from the pollination. Check out this Youtube video of a fly pollinating a flower!
  Detritivores:
    Lucilia sericata will use dead or decaying material to lay their eggs. The eggs that hatch into maggots will then feed on that dead or decaying matter from which they were born. 




Now let's take a look at medical maggots