"lucilia illustris" is 6–9 mm in length. its bucca (cheeks) are colored black with slightly gray pollinose and black hairs. the first segment of the antenna is black; the second generally orange-tipped, and the third segment is about three times the length of the second segment and colored a dark brown or black. the arista (a bristle on the antenna) is dark brown or black, and has cilia that are dark and long. the back of its head is black and there are three to four rows of black cilia behind the eyes.