Botfly 643440 225707736 2008-07-15T00:34:34Z Mark-mitchell-aldershot 3401544 {{Taxobox | image = Horse Botfly Imago.png | image_caption = Horse Botfly (''Gasterophilus intestinalis'') | name = Oestridae | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Arthropod]]a | subphylum = [[Hexapoda]] | classis = [[Insect]]a | subclassis = [[Pterygota]] | infraclassis = [[Neoptera]] | superordo = [[Endopterygota]]| | ordo = [[Fly|Diptera]] | subordo = [[Brachycera]] | infraordo = [[Muscomorpha]] | zoosectio = [[Schizophora]] | zoosubsectio = [[Calyptratae]] | superfamilia = [[Oestroidea]] | familia = '''Oestridae''' | subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies | subdivision = [[Cuterebrinae]]<br> [[Gasterophilinae]]<br> [[Hypodermatinae]]<br> [[Oestrinae]] }} [[Image:Magendassel.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Larval stage of the ''Gasterophilus intestinalis'']] [[Image:Ox Warble-fly.png|thumb|right|200px|Ox Warble-fly (''[[Hypoderma bovis]]'')]] '''Oestridae''' (also called '''botfly''' or "bumfly" '''bot fly''') is a [[family (biology)|family]] of [[Oestroidea]]. It is one of several families of hairy [[Fly|flies]] whose [[larvae]] live as [[parasite]]s within the bodies of [[mammal]]s, such as the [[Desert Woodrat]]. There are approximately 150 known species worldwide. Only one bot fly species attacks humans, the ''[[Dermatobia hominis]]''. For many years the [[deer botfly]] was cited as the fastest flying insect in the ''[[Guinness Book of World Records]]'', but the claim has been refuted and is no longer considered probable. ==Life cycle== *Botflies deposit eggs in a host body, or sometimes use an intermediate vector: common [[houseflies]] for example. *Eggs are deposited in animal [[skin]] directly, or the [[larva]]e drop from the egg: the body heat of the animal induces hatching upon contact. Some forms of botfly also reside in the [[digestive tract]] when consumed by a licking action. *[[Myiasis]] can be caused by larvae burrowing into the skin (or tissue lining) of the host animal. *Mature larvae drop from the host and complete the [[pupa]]l stage in soil. *They do not kill the host animal, and thus are true [[Parasitism|parasites]] (though some species of rodent-infesting botflies do consume the host's [[testes]]/[[ovary|ovaries]]). *The bot fly presents annual difficulties to [[Equestrianism|equestrian]] caretakers, as it lays eggs on the insides of horse’s front legs, on the [[cannon bone]] and [[knees]], and sometimes on the [[throat]] or [[nose]], depending on what type of bot fly does the laying. These eggs, which look like small, yellow drops of paint, must be carefully removed during the laying season (late summer and early fall) to prevent infestation in the horse. When a horse rubs its nose on its legs, the eggs are transferred to the mouth, and from there to the [[intestines]], where the [[larva]] grows and migrates to the skin. When ready to emerge, a thumbnail-sized lump will appear on the horse, which is not painful, but if the lump happens to be where the [[saddle]] or [[bridle]] go, the horse will be out of commission until the wound made by the young bot fly’s emergence heals. Additionally, migrating larva may cause mouth sores, ulcers in the stomach, and blockage of the [[pyloric valve]] which could lead to [[equine colic|colic]]. Removal of the eggs (which adhere to the host’s hair) is tricky, since the bone and [[tendons]] are directly under the skin on the cannon bones: eggs must be removed with a sharp knife (often a razor blade) or rough sand paper, and caught before they reach the ground. During this process the human can also become infected. Bots can be controlled with several types of dewormers, including [[dichlorvos]], [[ivermectin]], and [[trichlorfon]] ==Locations== Botflies live in a variety of places, mostly warm and damp climates including throughout Brazil and Chile, as well as far north as the southern United States.<br /><br /> Countries with known botfly encounters: *[[Brazil]] *Belize *Chile *[[United States]] *[[Mexico]] *Honduras *Dominican Republic *Peru *Argentina *Several small provinces in [[Africa]]. ==References== * Pape, T. (2001). Phylogeny of Oestridae (Insecta: Diptera). ''Systematic Entomology'' '''26''', 133–171. [[Digital Object Identifier|doi]]: 10.1046/ == External links == *[http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/b1/botfly.asp Encyclopedia.com article] *[http://www.bigwavetv.com/programs/prog_bug.html "Bug Attack" documentary: includes footage and description of botflies] *[http://www.snopes.com/horrors/insects/wormeye.htm A snopes article concerning a botfly infestation] *[http://www.ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/botfly.html Human Botfly, Description and Cure] *[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23eimVLAQ2c Footage of a Human Botfly removal] {{commonscat|Oestridae|Bot fly}} [[Category:Oestridae| ]] [[Category:Flies]] [[Category:Parasites]] [[Category:Equine parasites]] [[de:Dasselfliegen]] [[fr:Oestridae]] [[fy:Brims]] [[nl:Horzels]] [[no:Bremser]] [[pl:Gzowate]] [[pt:Berne]] [[fi:Kiiliäiset]] [[sv:Korm]] [[uk:Овід]]