what is a botfly

A botfly, also known as a warble fly, heel fly, or gadfly, is a type of fly belonging to the family Oestridae. The larvae of botflies are internal parasites of mammals, including humans. They have a varied life cycle, with some species' larvae growing in the host's flesh and others within the host's alimentary tract. The human botfly (Dermatobia hominis) is the only species of botfly known to routinely parasitize humans. The adult botfly captures a blood-sucking insect, like a mosquito, and lays its eggs on their bodies. Those egg-covered insects then spread the botfly eggs onto the fur or into the skin of the animals. The larvae then grow from the eggs and burrow into the host animal through a bite opening, or they can enter the body through the animal's nose, eyes, or mouth. Once the parasite is under the host's skin, it forms a cocoon and feeds on the animal's flesh. The effects of a botfly infection typically do not kill the host, and the sore where the larvae's cocoon was eventually heals