Answer to Case 612
Answer toParasite Case of the Week 612: fly larva (maggot),Luciliaspecies. By using a pictorialkey from the CDC website, I would say that this is most likelyLucilia(Phaenicia)sericata,the common green bottle fly. The presence of three spiracular slits indicates that this is a third instar larva (second instar larvae each have 2 slits). Congratulations to the many viewers who wrote in with the correct answer! As nicely explained by Idzi, Jeff, Florida Fan and Kosta, the appearance of the spiracular plate (straight slits, complete peritreme), and lack of an accessory oral sclerite points to this being&nb...
Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites - October 26, 2020 Category: Parasitology Source Type: blogs
Answer to Case 307
Answer: Fly larvae (maggots). You can tell that these are second instars because they only have 2 spiracular slits rather than 3. It is difficult to identify early instars to the genus level, given the lack of available literature. For the 3rd instar larvae, important identifying features include the mouth parts, posterior spiracles, body shape and arrangement of cuticular spines. You can often view the spiracles using only a stereomicroscope, although in this case, I cut off the posterior end and mounted it on a glass slide.In this case, I can tell you that these are specifically blowfly larv...
Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites - June 11, 2014 Category: Pathologists Source Type: blogs
