Dermatobia hominis

Human Bot Fly
J. Eibl 2007, WikiMedia Commons

Human Bot Fly Larvae - Captain R. Goodman 2007, WikiMedia Commons

Also known as:

Human bot fly Torsalo Berne Ura

Scientific Classification

Class	Insecta
Order	Diptera
Family	Oestridae

Hosts

Humans, many birds and most domestic and wild animals.

Identification

The mature larvae may grow up to 25mm in length. D. hominis are similar to Calliphora in appearance. They have a blue-black abdomen, and have 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