rural areas, an entomologist can use these characteristics to determine a region or habitat where the victim died. Entomologists can use SDF (spiracle distance factor) values when identifying between Calliphora sp. SDF is calculated by dividing the distance between the spiracles by the greatest diameter of one spiracle. Since the greatest diameter of one spiracle tends to remain constant for each species, SDF values are very useful. To tell the difference between C. loewi and C. vomitoria, the SDF for C. vomitoria decreases (the spiracles come closer together) when the puparium transitions between the 2nd and 3rd instars. The SDF for C. loewi however remains constant (the spiracles maintain their distance between). Medical In the epidemiological sense, blowflies are of concern due to being possible mechanical vectors of disease. Blowfly breeding and feeding hosts tend to be decomposing animals and dung, which are covered with bacteria that consequentially come in contact with the fly. Lab studies have shown that blowflies coming in contact with agar have produced cultures that contain pathogens. Although C. loewi does breed in carrion and possibly in human feces, it remains uncertain whether it carries or transmits disease. Ecological They are also very important ecologically because they are decomposers. Blowflies are not only attracted to decomposing hosts but to some plants as well. C. loewi and other blowflies have been observed to be attracted to Phallus impudicus, the stinkhorn fungus, which tends to smell like carrion. The Stapelia flower, which smells like carrion and emits heat like that of decomposition, also attracts blowflies. The flower causes females to oviposit (deposit eggs from ovipositor) but it does not support past the 1st instars. Some other plants do support larvae through full development. Research Research has been performed using synthetic trap baits instead of carcasses to capture blowflies. In a field test, dimethyl trisulfide was used in trap baits and C. loewi and other various blowflies were caught in these traps. Blowflies are attracted to decaying hosts due to the odors produced by bacterial decomposition. Dimethyl trisulphide is probably a decomposition product from bacterial decomposition and a major attractant for blowflies looking for hosts. Dimethyl disulfide has also been used in trap baits and for the suppression of other Calliphora sp. Future research about the behavior of C. loewi will provide more information to gain a better picture of the lifecycle which will allow investigators to better estimate