New World Screwworm (Larva)

Natural Habitat

Tropical and subtropical areas of the Western Hemisphere; obligate parasites of living warm-blooded animals.

Diet & Feeding

The larvae are parasitic and feed exclusively on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, unlike most maggots that feed on dead tissue.

Behavior Patterns

Females lay eggs near open wounds on a host. Larvae hatch and burrow deeply into the living flesh, creating distinct pocket-like lesions. Mature larvae drop from the host to pupate in the soil.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Extremely dangerous parasite to livestock, wildlife, and humans (myiasis); can cause severe tissue destruction, secondary infections, and death if untreated. Benefits: None in their parasitic stage; adults are pollinators but ecologically negligible compared to the severe harm they cause.

Identified on: 2/10/2026