| Description |
The New World screwworm fly (NWS), Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), and the Old World screwworm (OWS), Chrysomya bezziana (Villeneuve), are both obligate parasites of mammals during their larval stages, with the resulting infestation of tissue by larval stages being known as myiasis. Both NWS and OWS are in the subfamily Chrysomyinae of the family Calliphoridae (blow flies) of the order Diptera (true flies). Larvae feeding on the skin and underlying tissues of the host cause a condition known as wound or traumatic myiasis, which can be fatal. |