With so much of the blowfly's genetic makeup now defined, new areas of genetic weakness are being explored with the hope they may be targeted through drugs and vaccines in the future.

The work has so far found about 400 genes unique to the sheep blowfly from of a total of about 7500 genes.

Geneticists need to now explore these unique genetic sequences further to see just how essential these areas of the blowfly's genetic makeup are.

"If one of these genes produces a protein vital in the life cycle of the fly then we might be able to find a drug to immobilise it, or use a vaccine," Australian Wool Innovation program manager animal health and welfare, Dr Johann Schroder, said.

He said the complex work is now moving from the blue sky research phase to the targeted research phase, suggesting a more optimistic approach to the viability of the idea that genetics could provide an answer for beating the blowfly.

Unfortunately there is no guarantee of success and Dr Schroder said "once a potential target is identified, it can still take up to 10 years for a new Lucilia-specific insecticide to be developed for the market". And mapping the rest of the fly's genome may take up to five years.