Dermatobia hominis
- Pronunciation
- /der-muh-TOH-bee-uh HO-mee-nis/
- Category
- Taxonomy
- Singular
- Dermatobia hominis
- Plural
- Dermatobia hominis
Definition
A species of bot fly that is a parasite of humans and other animals.
Etymology
From Greek 'derma', meaning 'skin', and 'bios', meaning 'life'. The species name 'hominis' refers to its association with humans.
Example
The Dermatobia hominis larvae burrow into the skin of humans, causing painful swellings.
Related Terms
- Bot fly
- Parasitism
- Skin myiasis
Usage Notes
Dermatobia hominis is also known as the 'human bot fly'.