Blowflies
Aram Mikaelyan, Tatiana Teixeira Torres, Kelly Meiklejohn & Lauren Weidner
Have you ever noticed how they seem to find the most unexpected, and admittedly gross, food sources? It's as if they have a sixth sense for the weirdest and smelliest things.
Blow flies, with their buzzing, iridescent presence, impact ecosystems in complex ways. Their larvae (maggots) aid in decomposition and can also be linked to disease transmission. Notably, primary and secondary screwworm larvae are parasitic. Primary screwworms infest open wounds on warm-blooded animals, causing severe tissue damage, while secondary screwworms feed on necrotic tissue, impeding healing and causing discomfort.
Though associated with wounds, blow fly larvae also have medical uses. When raised in sterile conditions, they are employed in maggot therapy to cleanse wounds by devouring dead tissue, aiding healing. Additionally, blow flies play a key role in forensic investigations, helping estimate time of death.
Join us as we explore the fascinating world of blow flies, their unique life cycles, and their impacts on health, agriculture, and forensic science. Understanding these parasitic species is essential for developing sustainable solutions to mitigate their effects.