[3] Larvae in the genus Calliphora can be characterized by being round in cross section, slightly raised posterior spiracles which are surrounded by 10 or more tubercles, complete peritremes, and an accessory oral sclerite.

The minimum developmental temperature is approximately 1 °C (34 °F) and 4700 accumulated degree hours (ADH) are required for development from the moment the egg hatches to pupation.

Calliphorid flies disperse an average of 15–20 feet (4.6–6.1 m) before pupation and remain in the pupal stage for 3–20 (or more) days.

[8] Adult C. livida have a blue metallic sheen dulled by micromentum, or dense, tiny hairs.

This characteristic is good to use for identification in fully sclerotized specimens but can be misleading in teneral flies, which are common in C.

[9] Calliphora livida holds great importance to forensic entomology, which is the crossover between arthropod science and the judicial system.

More importantly, C. livida plays a major role in the branch of medicocriminal forensic entomology, the use of arthropod evidence to aid in solving usually violent crimes.

[4][10] Calliphora livida is important in estimating post-mortem interval because of its relatively early appearance on carrion.

The three instars occur throughout a period of 4 to 15 days depending on the amount of calories that can be amassed by a maggot.

Temperature, heat generated by the maggot mass, the type of food source, contaminants and toxins, and obstructions that thwart the oviposition of adults are all factors that can affect the rate of development of larvae, thereby effecting the estimation.

Members of the genus Calliphora have been found to spread a number of bacterial diseases including poliomyelitis and dysentery and can cause myiasis.

[1] In 1950, a study was conducted in Savannah, Georgia on use of insecticides to control fly breeding in garbage cans.