Dermatobia hominis

Human Bot Fly - Captain R. Goodman, United States Air Force

Human Bot Fly Larvae - Captain R. Goodman, United States Air Force

• Also called the human bot fly

• Larvae are important parasites of both humans and animals

• Specifically found in South America

Recognition

• Adult can grow up to 25mm in length

• Similar to Calliphora in appearance
  • Blue-black
  • Yellow-orange head and legs

• Larvae are distinctive as they taper towards the posterior end

Life cycle

• Eggs laid on blood sucking flies such as mosquitoes
  • These hatch when the mosquito next lands on a warm blooded animal

• Larvae penetrate skin causing painful swellings

• Larvae emerge after 35-42 days and fall to ground to pupate

• 4 month life cycle

Pathogenesis

• In humans, the larvae are most often found in swellings on the head and limbs

• Larvae cause painful swellings and distress to cattle

• Larvae cause production losses

• Wounds caused by exiting larvae can increase the prevalence of attack by other myiasis flies