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[Cochliomyia hominovorax] [Dermatobia hominis] [Cuterebra spp.] [Oestrus ovis] [Cordylobia anthropophaga] [Phaenicia spp.] [Phormia regina]

Dermatobia hominis is known as the human bot fly, although bot flies in other genera may also infect humans.  Adults are large, approximately 15 mm in length.  Adults catch a female mosquito and lay their eggs on her body.  The first instar larvae remain on the mosquito until it takes a blood meal from a human host.  The larvae then leave the mosquito and penetrate the human host's skin.  Larvae feed inside a subdermal cavity for 5-10 weeks.  When mature, they burrow out of the skin, drop to the ground and pupate.  After about a month, adults emerge and continue the cycle.  Dermatobia hominis occurs in Mexico and Central and South America and may infect a variety of mammals.

A	B

A: Four larvae of D. hominis, removed from a human host.
B: Close-up of the anterior end of one of the larvae from Figure A, showing the mandibles.

C	D

C: Close-up of the posterior end of one of the larvae from Figure A.
D: Anterior end of a larva of D. hominis.  Image from a specimen courtesy of the Idaho State Health Department.