bowangew

English: Translation

large fly; large carrion fly; blowfly-like fly. A conspicuously large, heavy-bodied fly that occasionally appears inside houses and is traditionally perceived as approximately three or four times the bulk of an ordinary /langew/ It is often distinguished by its robust body, prominent buzzing, and comparatively noticeable flight.

Notes

bowangew n.

The term probably refers especially to one or more kinds of blowfly or bottle fly—family Calliphoridae—or possibly a large flesh fly. Such flies are commonly attracted to meat, fish, animal remains, refuse, fecal matter, and other decomposing organic substances. The unexpected appearance of several bowangew inside a house may therefore be associated with a dead rat, bird, lizard, or other concealed animal nearby.

Provisional scientific identification: a large muscoid fly, most plausibly a blowfly or bottle fly; exact species undetermined. Identification should not be restricted to a single species without photographs or collected specimens.

Disambiguation:
Not the ordinary langew, which is smaller and regularly present around houses and food.
Not necessarily a horsefly or gadfly, which is primarily an outdoor, blood-feeding fly associated with livestock and other animals.
Not every metallic green or blue fly should automatically be identified as the same species, since several blowfly species may be recognized collectively by the folk name.

Comparative note: The form appears related semantically—and possibly historically—to Philippine bangaw, widely used for a large fly in contrast with langaw ‘ordinary or smaller fly.’ The internal structure of Boie’nen bowangew, however, should be treated as historically opaque unless speakers recognize bowa- as an independently productive formative.

Compare: langew ‘ordinary housefly; common fly.’

Boie'nen (Old Buhi Language)

bowangew