They live in Mexico

Bot Flies Are Our Friends - Gallery

Warning this is really gross.

Is there such a thing as a human bot fly? Yes, we're sorry to say there is. Called the torsalo, Dermatobia hominis, occurs in Mexico and Central America. Fortunately, getting one is an extremely unlikely occurrence for the average visitor.

Select thumbnail for larger picture.

 

  Rabbit Bot Fly Adult             

Mouse With Rodent Bot Larva

  Rabbit Bot Fly Larva              

Rodent Bot Fly Larva

  

Human Bot Fly Wound

          


  Human Bot Larva From Wound

  

Nose Bots                                

Human Bot Fly Warbles

  

Bot Fly Abscesses
                    

Human Bot Fly Infection

  

Human Bot Fly Surgery            

Human Bot Fly Larvae

  

Rodent Bot Fly Warbles         

Rodent Bot Fly

  

Rodent Bot Fly Eggs
               

Stomach Bot Fly Larvae

2nd instar torsalo larva, note the hooks to hold it in place! One of the really cool things about this insect is that it lays its eggs on a mosquito and the eggs hatch when the mosquito feeds on a host. Do humans get warbles? Yes, (are you disgusted yet)?



While the maggot feeds on its host (you) it has to have a hole in the skin so it can continue to breath. It takes about 6 weeks to complete development on its host. There are stories of entomologists rearing torsalos on themselves in order to get a good specimen of an adult (which are rarely captured), but we regard this as taking your profession a little too far.