Oestridae
Oestridae
Oestridae (pronounced: /ˈɛstrɪdiː/), also known as bot flies, is a family of flies that are known for their parasitic life cycle. The family includes several genera, such as Oestrus, Gasterophilus, Hypoderma, and Cuterebra.
Etymology
The term "Oestridae" is derived from the Greek word "oistros", which means gadfly or frenzy. The name reflects the agitated behavior of livestock that are infested with these flies.
Description
Members of the Oestridae family are robust, hairy flies that resemble bumblebees. They are known for their unique life cycle, where the larvae develop inside the body of a host, typically a mammal. The adult flies do not feed and have atrophied mouthparts, while the larvae feed on the host's tissues.
Genera
The Oestridae family includes several genera, each with its unique characteristics and host preferences.
- Oestrus - This genus includes the sheep bot fly, Oestrus ovis, a well-known parasite of sheep and goats.
- Gasterophilus - Known as horse bot flies, species in this genus are parasites of horses.
- Hypoderma - Species in this genus, such as the cattle bot fly, are parasites of cattle.
- Cuterebra - This genus includes species that are parasites of rodents and rabbits.
Related Terms
- Myiasis - The infestation of a host's tissues by fly larvae.
- Parasitism - A type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another.
- Entomology - The study of insects.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Oestridae
- Wikipedia's article - Oestridae
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski