[1] Adult flies can carry pathogens, while larvae may cause myiasis by growing and feeding on the flesh of domestic animals and humans.

C. putoria and other flies that feed on decomposing tissue are used as important tools in forensic entomology to establish the post-mortem interval, or the time elapsed since death.

[1] The fly is widely distributed across the central and southern regions of the African continent, and found in countries including Zambia, Ethiopia, and Madagascar.

[1] C. putoria is now found in many South American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, and Peru.

[1] Members of the family Calliphoridae lay larvae in the tissue and feces of warm-blooded animals, such as in pit latrines.

[11] Phylogenetic analysis of cytochrome c oxidase gene sequences indicates that the two species diverged just a few thousand years ago.

[3] After hatching from the egg, the larva in the first instar is 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long with 11 spine bands aligned along its 12 separate body segments.

[12] In the final instar stage, the larva reaches a length of 13 mm (0.51 in) and develops larger fleshy folds.

[14] On the third day, the eyes turn orange and the body pigmentation shows a reddish tinge with a black stripe across the abdomen.

[15] Adult C. putoria females lay eggs on feces, decaying flesh, and rotting food matter.

[20] C. putoria are affected by pathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana that act as parasitoids and can eventually kill.

[10] The synanthropy of these flies is especially concerning, as their preference for human settlements may contribute to a major health impact in developing countries.

[28] Since the larvae of C. putoria and other blowfly species actively decompose cadavers, understanding their life cycle duration can be used to estimate the PMI (post-mortem interval).

[29] Cocaine and other drugs in the cadaver's system can accelerate the life cycle of the larvae, therefore introducing error into PMI analysis.

[30] Ongoing studies on the impact of drugs on the life cycle duration can reduce potential sources of PMI estimation errors.