Bug Identifier
Eyeworm (African eyeworm)
Community identification

Eyeworm (African eyeworm)

Loa loa

Order & Family
Order: Spirurida; Family: Onchocercidae
Size
Adult females: 40–70 mm in length; Adult males: 30–34 mm in length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found primarily in West and Central Africa; lives in human subcutaneous tissue and can migrate across the subconjunctiva of the eye.

Diet & Feeding

Absorbs nutrients from the host's body fluids while residing in subcutaneous tissues.

Behavior Patterns

Transmitted by deer fly bites (Chrysops species); the larvae mature into adults in human tissue and crawl beneath the skin or across the eye's surface.

Risks & Benefits

Causes loiasis, leading to localized 'Calabar swellings,' itching, and eye irritation; surgical removal from the eye is often required to prevent discomfort and damage.