Botflies
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Biography
Botflies, also known as warble flies, heel flies, and gadflies, are flies of the family Oestridae. Their larvae are internal parasites of mammals, some species growing in the host's flesh and others within the gut.
"The nasal botfly (, : ) is a myiasis-causing insect species, which affects the health of sheep, goats and humans. Gravid females are viviparous and larviposit into the animal’s nostrils. Host-searching and larvipositing flies are visually guided and influenced by climatic conditions, whereas olfaction seemed to play no role in this process. However, here, we show that the antennae of adult O. ovis female flies are relatively small but well developed and inhabited by several types of olfactory sensilla. Further, we show that the antennal lobes of this species receive input from antennal afferents and consist of a clearly defined glomerular organisation. We also give the first evidence of the fly’s ability to detect several synthetic odour compounds."
", commonly known as the human botfly, is native to Tropical America. As such, cutaneous infestation by its developing larvae, or myiasis, is quite common in this region. The distinct dermatological presentation of D hominis myiasis allows for its early recognition and noninvasive treatment by locals. However, it can prove quite perplexing for those unfamiliar with the lesion's unique appearance. Common erroneous diagnoses include the following: , , and embedded with localized ."
"... the way mosquitoes serve botflies in Central and South America. The size of a , the fly seizes a mosquito in midair and glues her own eggs to her captive's abdomen. Later, when the mosquito feeds on a person, the damp warmth of human skin causes the fly's eggs to hatch, leaving maggots to burrow into the new host. Soon, the maggot's breathing apparatus can be seen poking through the victim's skin. Within a week, it's as large as a small olive."