Nasal botfly larvae are the stuff of nightmares, even for hunters with strong stomachs. Good thing they’re totally natural and quite common in big game species
The botfly is a type of parasitic fly, best known for disturbing images of its larval stage buried in skin and from horror stories of infested people. The botfly is any fly from the family Oestridae. The flies are obligate internal mammalian parasites, which means they can’t complete their life cycle unless the larvae have a suitable host. The only species of botfly that parasitizes humans is Dermatobia hominis. Like many species of botfly, Dermatobia grows within the skin. However, other species grow within the host’s gut.
Mango worms, also known as Cordylobia anthropophaga, are a type of parasite that infest animals, including humans. These worms are commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa and are known to cause discomfort and pain to their hosts. The infestation usually occurs when the larvae of the mango fly, which is the adult form of the worm, burrow into the skin of the host.
The mango worm infestation can cause a range of symptoms, including itching, swelling, and pain around the area where the worm has burrowed into the skin. The infestation can also lead to the formation of a boil-like lesion, which can be filled with pus. While the infestation is not usually life-threatening, it can be a cause of discomfort and distress to those affected.
Parasites like mango worms are a common occurrence in many parts of the world, and it is crucial to take precautions to avoid infestation. Simple measures such as wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent, and keeping the skin clean and dry can help decrease the risk of infestation. Here, we will explore the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for mango worm infestation, and provide tips on how to prevent infestation.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, I’d like a word—and bring along Henry David, too, because September is National Botfly Month, at least for white-footed mice in the Brockport Woods. Pick up a mature white-footed mouse in September and there’s a decent chance that it will carry one or more botfly larvae nestled in its groin. Each larva chews a breathing hole through the mouse’s skin, and there it lies: softly pulsating, living the good botfly life. A full-grown larva might be three quarters of an inch long and weigh one gram, about five percent of an adult mouse’s weight—equivalent to a 7.5-pound larva in a 150-pound human. Shades of Alien, although there’s no spectacular explosion from the mouse’s chest, just a soft, rhythmic writhing before the mature larva exits the mouse, goes to ground, and pupates. Come spring the surviving pupae metamorphose and emerge as adults who devote their short lives to reproduction. Botfly eggs, which females lay near rodent burrows or runways, will hatch quickly after exposure to the subtle increase in temperature caused by a passing mouse. The tiny larvae latch onto the wandering host, usually near the nose or mouth—openings they’ll use to enter the mouse before migrating to the groin, where they’ll grow fat and happy in their warm and sheltering home.
