Which family is characterized by a metallic thorax and abdomen?

• A. Scarabidae
• B. Calliphoridae
• C. Dermestidae
• D. Muscidae

Answer: (B)

Metallic coloration on the body is a hallmark of blowflies, the Calliphoridae. Adults of this family often show a bright blue-green, bronze, or steel sheen across the thorax and abdomen. This shiny appearance comes from microscopic structural features in the cuticle that reflect light, rather than from pigments alone. Because of this distinctive metallic look, Calliphoridae are easily recognized in forensic contexts, and they’re among the first insects to colonize a decomposing body, which helps in estimating the minimum time since death. The other groups listed do not typically display this same metallic sheen on both the thorax and abdomen—house flies (Muscidae) are usually dull gray or black, dermestids (Dermestidae) are small, often hairy beetles with less metallic surface, and scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae) are beetles that can be metallic but are not flies and are not described by this characteristic pattern. Therefore, the metallic thorax and abdomen points to Calliphoridae.