Rock a Baby:

Botfly Larvae Survival in Humans vs. Non-humans

By Karla Alvarado

University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Sociobiology ZOO4512

Introduction Methods Results Conclusion are parasitic part of the Data was collected by watching and The number of botfly larvae extraction Based on the data that was collected, Oestridae family. There are analyzing 16 videos of botfly larvae were observed from several humans and botfly mothers tend to lay more eggs inside approximately 150 species of botflies, extractions from humans and non-human . The number of of non-human mammals. The eggs that but only one, the human botfly, non-humans. Larvae were accounted for larvae extractions from individuals are developed into larvae in the non-human , preys on humans per individual. Histograms w ere accounted for in Table 1 and the average mammals may have been from a species of botfly that uses its to directly lay as their host. They are native to Central developed from the data collected. larvae extractions are reflected in Figure its eggs into a host. The larvae and South America, but there are cases 5. The highest number of extractions was that developed inside of humans may have where they have only been documented 10 larvae found in a non-human host. been from Dermatobia. Botflies are in North America due to travelers The highest number of extractions from a conspicuous with robust bodies and returning from trips to the equator. human was 5 larvae. large eyes with bodies spanning from 15 Botfly mothers most commonly mm to 17 mm long. Humans are more able parasitize mammals by depositing their to protect themselves if encountering a eggs into an open wound using its Figure 1: Nose Botfly large botfly in the wild compared to a small helpless squirrel or kitten. It is for this ovipositor. Such is the case for the () species Cuterabra which tends to use reason that a botfly may have evolved its clever behavior of trapping an intermediate smaller mammals as its host of choice. vector to deliver its babies for it such as a The human botfly, however, uses an mosquito or a tick. In conclusion, a female intermediate vector to deliver its babies botfly may be able to have more surviving for it. D. hominis is one of the most offspring if they are able to deposit their genius insects when it comes to eggs directly into their host if the host is protecting its babies because it uses non-human and its offspring may be more other insects, most commonly female successful at surviving if carried to their mosquitoes, to carry its unborn babies to human host using an intermediate vector. its host. The mother botfly catches a Another study should be conducted to female mosquito in mid-air and attaches determine whether botfly larvae have a its eggs onto the mosquitoes body Table 1: Dataset of botfly larvae higher survival rate in smaller versus larger mammals. where they will eventually hatch from the Figure 2: Botfly life cycle diagram extractions per host body heat of a feeding mosquito. Within Bibliography minutes the larvae will burrow Clark, B. K., & Kaufman, D. W. (1990). Prevalence of botfly themselves into the open wound on the ( sp.) in populations of small mammals skin of an where the mosquito in eastern Kansas. American Midland Naturalist, 22-30. Goodman, R. L., Montalvo, M. A., Reed, J. B., Scribbick, F. was feeding. The larvae will continue W., McHugh, C. P., Beatty, R. L., & Aviles, R. (2000). feeding off of the subepidermal tissue of Anterior orbital caused by human botfly its host until they grow large enough to (Dermatobia hominis). Archives of Ophthalmology, 118(7), 1002-1003. pupate. Once they are ready for Figure 3: Engorged larvae Kahn, D. G. (1999). Myiasis secondary to Dermatobia pupation they crawl out of the host emerging from human skin hominis (human botfly) presenting as a long-standing where they will drop to the ground and breast mass. Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 123(9), 829-831. burrow themselves into the soil and Lemaître, J., Fortin, D., Montiglio, P. O., & Darveau, M. eventually emerge as a botfly once (2009). Bot parasitism of the red-backed vole: host survival, infection risk, and population again. growth. Oecologia, 159(2), 283-294. In this study I examined the number Maier, H., & Hönigsmann, H. (2004). Furuncular myiasis of botfly larvae found in human hosts caused by Dermatobia hominis, the human botfly. Journal of Figure 5: Histogram of number of larvae the American Academy of Dermatology, 50(2), 26-30.(n.d.). compared to non-human hosts. Retrieved April 01, 2018, from Figure 4: Extracted larvae extracted from humans and non-humans http://www.dfwwildlife.org/opossum.html