Oestridae

Definition

A family of robust, hairy flies (Diptera: Brachycera) whose larvae are obligate endoparasites of mammals. Adults are non-feeding and short-lived; females deposit eggs or larvae on or near hosts, and first-instar larvae penetrate skin or enter body openings to develop in subcutaneous tissue (cutaneous myiasis) or internal organs (gastric, nasal, or other cavities). The family includes subfamilies Cuterebrinae (New World skin bots), Hypodermatinae (cattle grubs), Gasterophilinae (horse stomach bots), and Oestrinae (nasal bots of sheep and other mammals).

Etymology

From Greek oistros (gadfly, frenzy) + Latin -idae (family suffix)

Example

Dermatobia hominis (human botfly), a member of Oestridae, oviposits on mosquitoes that then transport eggs to human skin; larvae burrow and develop in painful furuncular lesions.

Synonyms

• botflies
• Warble flies
• Heel flies
• gadflies

Related Terms

• myiasis
• Cuterebridae
• Hypoderma
• Gasterophilus
• Dermatobia
• Endoparasite
• dipteran
• Brachycera
• Oestroidea

Usage Notes

Sometimes treated as Oestridae in older literature; subfamily Cuterebrinae is occasionally elevated to family rank (Cuterebridae) in some classifications. Distinguish from facultative myiasis-causing flies (e.g., Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae) whose larvae typically infest necrotic tissue rather than healthy host tissue. Adults lack functional mouthparts and cannot bite; all feeding damage is caused by larvae.