Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screwworm fly, or simply screwworm or screw-worm, is a species of parasitic fly that is well known for the way in which its larvae (maggots) eat the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. It is present in the New World tropics.

2024年9月13日 · New World screwworm (NWS) infestation occurs when NWS fly larvae (Cochliomyia hominivorax) infest the tissue or flesh of warm-blooded animals; on rare occasions this includes people. Screwworm flies are attracted to and lay eggs on and in open wounds. NWS does not regularly occur or spread in the United States.

2025年3月3日 · New World screwworm (NWS, Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a devastating pest. When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a living animal, they cause serious, often deadly damage to the animal. NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds, and in rare cases, people.

Cochliomyia is a genus in the family Calliphoridae, known as blowflies, in the order Diptera. Cochliomyia is commonly referred to as the New World screwworm flies, as distinct from Old World screwworm flies.

2024年8月5日 · New World screwworm (NWS) infestation is a type of myiasis that occurs when NWS fly larvae (Cochliomyia hominivorax) infest the living flesh of warm-blooded animals—most commonly livestock and less commonly birds, pets, and humans. The screwworm flies are attracted to and lay their eggs on and in open wounds and mucous membranes.

The adult screwworm fly is about the size of a common housefly (or slightly larger), with orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body, and three dark stripes along its back. The name screwworm is thought to refer to the feeding behavior of the maggots as they burrow (screw) into the wound, feeding as they go like a screw being driven into wood.

Myiasis is infection with the larval stage (maggots) of various flies. Flies in several genera may cause myiasis in humans. Dermatobia hominis is the primary human bot fly. Cochliomyia hominovorax is the primary screwworm fly in the New World and Chrysomya bezziana is the Old World screwworm. Cordylobia anthropophaga is known as the tumbu fly.

Cochliomyia hominivorax, referred to as the primary screwworm causes obligatory myiasis (feeds on live flesh as a primary source of food) and is a major economic pest. Description: The female is attracted to fresh open wounds on any warm-bloodied animal. The wounds can range from a thorn scratch, insect or tick bite mark to a gaping laceration.

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. NWS and OWS are in the subfamily Chrysomyinae of the family Calliphoridae (blow flies) of the order Diptera (true flies).

The New World Screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) (NWS) and the Old World Screwworm Chrysomya bezziana (OWS) are major parasitic insect pests are destructive and often fatal pests of all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Females lay eggs into animal wounds and on soft tissues such as the nose, navel and anus.