Questions remain about differentiating greenbottle flies (Lucilia spp.) from muscid lookalikes (Neomyia) in iNaturalist photos. I wrote previously that the distribution of the tomentum (silver reflection caused by microtrichia) would help; below are some further photos to aid in this process.

Male Neomyia

Male Lucilia

Female Neomyia

Female Lucilia 

In each instance, you can see that the tomentum in Lucilia extends much farther dorsally on the frons than in Neomyia.

There was also the tougher question about separating Lucilia cuprina from L. sericata in photos. This is more difficult, because the main character used by the calliphorid expert, Terry Whitworth, is on the back of the head, usually out of sight in photos. There are supporting characters, however, on the dorsum (top) of the thorax. If you look at the humeral callus (“h”, below) and the notopleuron (the triangular area marked “n”), there are a  few tiny setulae along the posterior margins. In L. sericata, there are usually around 6, in L. cuprina 2-3. If you can see that kind of detail in an iNaturalist photo, then you can make a call; otherwise, I suggest leaving them as “Lucilia sp.”

sericata thorax

cuprina thorax