Gadfly - description of the insect and consequences of the bite

The gadfly is an insect that belongs to the parasitic flies. There are many misconceptions about the lifestyle of gadflies and the threat they pose to human and animal health.

Contrary to popular belief, the gadfly does not bite or feed on blood, but it is no less dangerous than the horsefly, with which it is usually confused.

7 Bite and consequences of “communication” with a gadfly

8 Signs of infestation with gadfly larva

9 Treatment

10 Precautions

11 Conclusion

Description, appearance and features

The gadfly is an insect from the Diptera family. The larvae of these insects parasitize mammals. Almost all varieties of gadflies belong to synanthropic species, since their existence is associated with human settlements.

The gadfly looks like a fairly large fly. Depending on the species, the size of an adult individual can reach from 9 to 25 mm. The head is slightly flattened and wide. The head has rather large eyes, short antennae, and a reduced proboscis (sometimes completely absent). The body is round, covered with villi. The wings are translucent and mesh. The legs are powerful and short. Color can vary from gray to brown.

Appearance

Gadflies are often confused with biting horse flies. Indeed, in appearance, the gadfly and horsefly are very similar, the difference is that horseflies are larger, and their color is more rich and contrasting.

Insect biology

In principle, gadflies are not just one species, but a collective name for all dipterans that, one way or another, use warm-blooded animals to carry their eggs. Scientists have combined these flies into three families, which differ in where the flies lay their eggs:

Gastric. Flies of this subfamily tend to lay eggs close to the animal's mouth, so that after swallowing the eggs, the larvae end up in the host's stomach. One of the representatives of gastric insects is the horse gadfly.
Cavity. These parasites, particularly the so-called botfly, lay eggs in the nostrils, eyes or ears. They differ in that they have an incomplete transformation cycle. The female lays live larvae in the cavities of animals and humans.
Skin. The most famous of them is the bovine gadfly, the female of which attaches eggs to the hairs of the animal, and the hatched larva pierces the skin of the animal and lives there until pupation.

Attention! Skin and stomach flies are insects with a complete cycle of transformation, cavitary flies - with an incomplete one.

Description

To answer the question of what a gadfly looks like, you need to imagine a simple housefly. Gadflies are also flies with dim colors of various shades and sizes from 13 to 18 millimeters in length, depending on the species. Like all other flies, they have large compound eyes and small transparent wings.

Nutrition

A peculiarity of gadflies is that adults do not eat at all. The fact is that after hatching from the pupa, adult individuals almost immediately look for a partner, mate and, having laid eggs, die. For this short life cycle, they have enough energy, which they received when feeding in the process of evolution from an egg.

Habitats

Botflies live on all continents except Antarctica. The 150 species studied by scientists settle near livestock farms or in places where their animal hosts gather, in meadows and pastures, and near watering places.

Our help! By the way, only one species - the great human gadfly from South America - deliberately attacks people.

Reproduction

Mating of adults occurs soon after birth. Depending on the region of residence, these may be different months of the year. It is optimal if it is humid and warm enough at this time. It is considered optimal when the surface body temperature of the animal is at thirty degrees Celsius.

Years, depending on the region of stay, can be more or less long. In total, an adult insect can live for a maximum of a month, and the usual period before mating is only three days.

This is interesting! Gadflies can fly immediately after the adult emerges from the pupa!

Each of the females of this parasite is capable of laying up to seven hundred eggs on the body of one animal. Moreover, depending on the species, the location of oviposition varies greatly. But basically the principle of its location is the same - a small awn and a thick undercoat.

Therefore, the places of clutches on the animal’s body are most often as follows:

groin;
stomach;
front of thighs.

Only then, having penetrated under the skin, the larva moves along the vessels or nerve endings to the dorsal part of the host.

Phases of development

For example, consider the life cycle of cutaneous species of gadflies; the development of insects of other subfamilies follows almost the same scenario. So, the female gadfly lays, as mentioned above, her eggs in the animal’s fur.

Further, thanks to the high body temperature of the same cow in summer, a larva hatches from the egg in literally three days.

After birth, the larva immediately begins to dig under the skin of the unfortunate animal and begins to move towards the dorsal part of the owner. At the second stage of their development, the nymphs, having reached the top of the back, make holes in the skin for breathing, which gives the animal a lot of unpleasant sensations. In addition, the larvae prepare peculiar capsules for pupation, after climbing into which they move on to the next phase of their development.

In the third stage of development, the larvae pupate and fall out of previously made holes onto the ground, under the feet of animals in stalls. Here, in a humid environment, they spend about a month in a sedentary state, after which they transform for the last time - into an adult.

The transformation into an adult occurs almost instantly, after which the adult gadfly flies away to the mating sites.

This is interesting! Some scientists support the assertion that the mating sites of gadflies do not change over several generations, like fish spawning grounds.

Assault on a person

The human gadfly does not contact people directly. This parasite infects blood-sucking insects with eggs, in particular mosquitoes, which, when they bite, carry the eggs of the gadfly under the human skin. Moreover, the cunning larvae use the site of a mosquito bite to penetrate.

Attention! Not only the great human gadfly “works” through mosquitoes, other species also use this technique. Therefore, a gadfly of another species can also take over the human body.

Kinds

The botfly family includes about 170 species, which can be divided into several categories depending on where the larvae parasitize. Gadflies are:

subcutaneous;
gastric;
nasopharyngeal.

Female subcutaneous gadflies lay eggs on the fur or skin of the victim. The hatched larvae penetrate the skin and develop there, feeding on connective and muscle tissue. The most numerous species is the bull gadfly. People are being attacked by the human gadfly.

Gastric botflies lay eggs on the fur of animals or on their food plants. The larvae enter the digestive tract, feed on mucosal tissues, and come out with feces. The horse gadfly belongs to this type.

Female nasopharyngeal botflies are viviparous. They inject larvae into the eyes and nostrils of animals (occasionally humans). Parasites develop by feeding on the tissues of the mucous membranes and can penetrate deeper, sometimes reaching the brain.

Development cycle

After mating, the female chooses a place to lay eggs. Typically these are areas where livestock are grazing or stables or farms. The female lays eggs on food plants or animal fur. Next, the hatched larvae enter the animal’s esophagus and develop there or penetrate the skin. This development cycle goes through the gastric and cutaneous gadfly. The cavitary does not lay eggs, but gives birth to larvae in flight, which end up in the mouth, eyes and nose of animals.

Gadflies are divided into 3 families:

Gastric flies (Gasterophilidae)
Subcutaneous gadflies (Hypodermatidae)
Cavity botflies (Oestridae)

Gastric botflies are characterized by the fact that the female lays eggs on the animal’s fur and on its food plants. After hatching, the larvae of the gadfly enter the animal’s body with food or are embedded under the skin. In the stomach they reach full maturity and are released with feces. The larvae that enter through the skin make holes in it, trying to get to the stomach. Thus causing severe itching and inflammation. The most famous representative of this family is the horse gadfly (Gasterophilus intestinalis).

The subcutaneous botfly is a parasite on cattle. They lay eggs on animal hairs. Having hatched from the eggs, the larvae penetrate the host's body. Under the skin, they make passages in the tissues and cause myiases (chambers under the skin with a hole in which the larvae are located). Having reached the second stage, the larvae emerge through fistulas (holes) to the outside. One of the representatives of this family is the bull gadfly (Hypoderma bovis).

Cavity or nasopharyngeal gadflies are viviparous. Females in flight spray larvae into the nose, eyes of animals or people. The larva of the gadfly parasitizes the mucous membrane of the nose and eyes, on the eyelid and inside the eyeball. They are localized in the nasopharynx, nasal and frontal sinuses. Two prominent representatives of this family are the Russian gadfly (Rhinoestrus purpureus) and the sheep gadfly (Oestrus ovis).

Horse gadfly - Gasterophilus intestinalis

Horse Gadfly

A representative of the gastric gadfly family. It lives everywhere and belongs to synanthropic insects (whose life activity is associated with humans). The body of the gadfly is slightly pubescent and reaches 16 mm in length. The chest and abdomen are yellow-brown in color, the end of the body is black. The head is light, almost white. There are short antennae on the forehead. Females differ from males in that they have a long ovipositor that bends under the body. The horse botfly is an insect that lays eggs on the fur of animals or plants on which they feed. Next, the larvae emerge from the eggs and try to get to the esophagus, through the skin or through the mouth. The horse botfly is often called the hook botfly because its larvae have several rows of hook-shaped spines with which they cling to the mucous tissues of animals. Feeding on the blood of warm-blooded animals and other nutrients, the larvae go through three stages of development. Having reached 2 cm in body length, they come out along with feces. The larvae pupate in feces. After 30-45 days, adult gadflies emerge from the pupae.

Bovine gadfly - Hypoderma bovis

Bull Gadfly

The bovine gadfly belongs to the subcutaneous gadfly family. Lives in Europe, Asia and North Africa. The body reaches 16 mm. The surface of the body is covered with dense hairs. The color is yellowish-gray. There are two horizontal black stripes in the middle of the thoracic segment and abdomen. The female bovine gadfly lays one egg per hair of the animal. Once hatched, the larva burrows into the skin and can migrate through the tissues inside the body, feeding on blood and other nutrients. Having traveled inside the body, the parasite nevertheless returns under the skin of the animal (before molting in the second stage of development). There he creates a kind of chamber with fistulas (holes) through which air enters. After some time, the larvae emerge from the animal skins. They pupate in manure or soil. And after just a few days, adult individuals emerge from the pupae, ready for reproduction. Bull Gadfly

Human gadfly - Dermatobia hominis

Human gadfly

Distributed in South and Central America, in the forests of Argentina and Mexico, but can easily be transported by infected people to other countries. The human gadfly reaches 18 mm in length. The head is yellow with large black eyes. The abdomen is blue with a metallic tint. The body is densely covered with hairs. After fertilization, the female human gadfly lays eggs on blood-sucking parasites: ticks, mosquitoes, etc. During a bite, the larva emerges from the egg and burrows into the skin of a person or animal. The larvae are white, with many black dots and spines on the thoracic segment. Sometimes the larvae can move around inside the body, but mostly they are in the so-called chambers with holes, waiting for the completion of their development. Air enters the chamber through openings (fistulas). The larvae feed on liquid substances of the human body, and decompose solid substances with special dermatolytic enzymes. After some time, the larva leaves the host's body. It pupates in the ground and after 2-3 weeks an adult gadfly emerges. After a few minutes, he is already able to fly and reproduce. Humans may also be susceptible to infiltration by other types of gadflies, such as the sheep, bull, or horse gadflies. In any case, such a parasite causes severe damage and infection of the skin, and in some cases, death.

Gadfly larva in a person

Lifestyle and habitat

Gadflies are distributed throughout the world except for the coldest regions, but they are most abundant in southern latitudes. Insects are thermophilic and prefer areas with high humidity. Most often they are found near bodies of water. Since gadflies need animals to reproduce, they are localized where there are large concentrations of animals - near pastures and livestock farms.

Since adult individuals have one task - to reproduce offspring, this is what they devote all their time to. Insects are stubborn and very annoying; having identified a victim, they will not leave it alone without laying eggs.

Where does the gadfly live?

Photo: Insect gadfly

These parasitic flies are widespread throughout the world; they live on almost all continents except regions where it is very cold and there is a constant minus. They are quite thermophilic and reproduce quickly in southern latitudes - here they can be found in huge quantities. In Russia, some species are found even in the north of the country, the Urals, and Siberia. Specimens that are particularly dangerous to life and human health live only in hot, humid climates and are not found in our country.

Since they need large concentrations of mammals to reproduce, they settle near livestock farms and pastures. A large number of adult gadflies can be observed near rivers, swamps, and lakes. They love warmth, sun and moisture. Quite often, gadflies prowl through forests, fields and meadows, but they return to their usual place of residence and remain there all their lives.

Interesting fact: By parasitizing sheep and cows, gadflies cause great damage to livestock. If in the field of view of an adult there is not a sufficient number of objects in the body of which eggs can be laid, then the entire huge portion of larvae goes to one animal, which most often subsequently dies in agony. But even a few abdominal or subcutaneous parasites can cause serious disturbances in the functioning of animal organs.

Reproduction and lifespan

Adult male gadflies gather in large groups, and females fly up to them when it is time to mate. Immediately after fertilization, the female goes in search of a suitable animal to lay eggs.

Life cycle

The lifespan of an adult gadfly ranges from 3 to 25 days. If the female conserves her strength, she will live a little longer, but may have time to mate and lay eggs in just a few days, and then die.

Description

The horse botfly belongs to the gastric botfly family and is one of the most common species. The length of its body can be from 1.2 to 1.6 cm. The color is yellow-brown, heterogeneous - there are dark spots. The entire body is covered with silky erect hairs. There are antennae on the head, brown spots are visible in the places where they are attached, the rest of the face is white.

The horse gadfly has wings, the surface of which is decorated with a transverse smoky stripe and spots of the same shade at the apexes. Sexual dimorphism is developed, which is manifested by a process on the trochanter of the hind legs in males.

Life cycle

The gastric botfly is an insect with a full cycle of transformation, that is, its development occurs according to the following scheme:

egg;
larva;
chrysalis;
imago.

The full cycle of their development takes place throughout the year.

On a note! According to observations, scientists are of the opinion that males and females mate in the same place every year, after which the latter immediately go in search of an animal on whose body eggs will be laid.

Eggs

The summer of the horse gadfly begins around June and lasts until October. Moreover, if the weather is cloudy, then summer will occur only at a sufficiently high air temperature - at least +13...14°C. On a sunny day, insects remain active even at relatively low thermometer readings - at +6...8°C.

At this time, females are searching for an animal, whose body will subsequently become a kind of soil for the development of offspring. She glues the eggs on the fly, both to the hair of the victim and to the food plants. One clutch can contain about 500-700 eggs - such fecundity of females makes it possible to maintain the existence of a relatively small species.

Larva

The larvae emerge from the eggs after 3-7 days - this will depend on weather conditions. If the larva hatches on the surface of the animal’s body, then it immediately begins to penetrate its skin, thereby violating the integrity of the integument and causing very severe discomfort - painful sensations and intense itching. Subsequently, horses lick the larvae from their body with their tongue and they thus enter the oral cavity.

On a note! The larvae are quite capable of reaching the animal’s mouth on their own - they simply cling to the hair with their hooks and move in this way!

The larva of the gastric botfly spends some time in the mouth of its “owner” - it settles in the tissues of his tongue, where it lives for about a month. The larva goes through several stages of its development.

After the first moult, the young animals begin to make passages in the mucous membranes, along which they first reach the pharynx, then proceed to the stomach. Often, from several dozen to several hundred parasitic botfly larvae are found in the stomachs of horses and donkeys. Some of the young generation enters the animal’s stomach along with food.
By the second stage of development, the larva increases in size: from 1.5 mm to 1.5 cm. In the stomach, with the help of their mouth hooks, they are strengthened and gradually each one is overgrown with adjacent tissues. As a result, the anterior end of the larva is transformed into a tumor, tightly covering all the spines located on its body. Thus, the young generation is retained in the animal’s body throughout the winter.
The larvae enter the third phase in the spring. By that time, their body length reaches 2 cm. The larvae undergo another moult, as a result they get rid of the skin that previously held them in the tissues. The body takes on a meat-red color.

Doll

The pupation phase of the larvae occurs in the ground or in manure. At this time, young animals are characterized by low mobility. The duration of development will depend on air temperature and the presence of precipitation, on average it takes from 34 to 44 days.

Imago

The imago emerges from the pupa, and this process occurs at lightning speed - it takes about 2-3 seconds for a horse gadfly to transform into an adult. And after another minute, the newly-minted insect acquires the ability to fly and reaches sexual maturity.

Adult gastric botflies do not feed, as they use resources that were accumulated in the larval stage. Adults live relatively short - from 3 to 20 days. During this time, the insect loses about a third of its body weight.

On a note! Their lifespan is affected by weather conditions. So, if the weather is damp, cool and cloudy, insects will immediately stop flying, thanks to which they will be able to save a significant amount of energy and live several days longer!

Life cycle of a gadfly

The gadfly is an insect with a full cycle of transformation. The development of the gadfly takes place in 4 stages:

egg;
larva;
chrysalis;
imago.

From the moment the eggs are laid until the death of the adult insect, it can take from 2 months to a year.

Egg phase

The eggs of the gadfly are oval, elongated. The color is most often light - white or beige, but in some species the eggs are dark, almost black. Females attach eggs to hairs, blades of grass, or lay them on the skin, sometimes one at a time, and sometimes in groups of 5–20 pieces. The development of the embryo inside the egg lasts from 3 to 7 days.

Larval phase

The gadfly larva is born very small, its size is 1.5 - 2.5 mm. Having hatched from the egg, the larva softens the top layer of skin and penetrates inside. Then the insects' paths diverge. Some remain under the skin, others travel throughout the victim’s body. The larva molts twice, and when the time comes to pupate, it escapes from the host's body with excrement or by gnawing holes in the skin.

Pupal phase

About a fifth of the gadfly larvae survive to the pupal stage. After leaving the victim's body, the larva falls to the ground and begins to form a cocoon. The process takes several days. The pupal stage lasts about 35–40 days, after which a sexually mature individual is born, breaking the protective shell.

Cutaneous (subcutaneous) gadfly

Another common name is bull gadfly. Lives mainly in Europe and Asia. Although it is also found in a number of African countries.

Body length is small. Usually 15-16 mm. The insect itself is covered with thick hairs. The color of the gadfly is yellowish-gray. Sometimes there are reddish inclusions.

It reproduces in the following way: the female attaches eggs to the fur of large animals. As a result, the larvae feel the heat and hatch. Next, they need to get inside the host organism. To do this, they drill into the animal's skin using a special secretion that liquefies the tissue.

The parasite then migrates inside the body. As a rule, along large vessels, nerves to the spine or esophagus. Along the way, they feed on blood and other useful substances. Naturally, all this causes pain and severe itching for the cow, horse or bull.

In a fairly short period of time, the skin gadfly larvae grow and become almost 5-6 times larger. After which they stop migrating and settle in special capsules. They need oxygen for further development. Therefore, the larvae form fistulous openings (nodules) in the skin. Through them, after some time, they get out, falling to the ground or into manure. Pupation takes on average 1-3 days. After which the skin gadfly can immediately fly and give birth to new offspring.

By the way, in the tundra and forest-tundra you can find another species of this family. This is a deer gadfly (for a long time it was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest insect). In structure and development it is similar to the subcutaneous gadfly of cattle. But its larvae are somewhat larger - hence the nickname “royal”. This gadfly parasitizes deer. Thus, it causes serious damage to reindeer husbandry by reducing the fatness of animals and deteriorating the quality of the skin.

For reference! Gadflies live on all continents except Antarctica. You can also meet these unpleasant winged pests in the Russian north, where the harsh climate reigns.

Bite and consequences of “communication” with a gadfly

A gadfly bite is an impossible thing, since the oral apparatus of an adult is either not developed or is completely absent. Those who claim that they were bitten by a gadfly most likely mistook another fly for it, such as a horsefly or a fly. Another option is that the person considered it a bite because the insect simply sat on him.

So we can only talk about the consequences of a gadfly bite if we mean by a bite an insect attack, during which it leaves eggs on the body. If there are wounds or damage to the body, the eggs will most likely end up there. Penetration of the larvae under the skin can cause swelling of the tissues adjacent to the wound, redness and even an increase in skin temperature.

Making their way deeper and deeper, the larvae feed on tissues, which leads to damage to organs and disruption of their functionality.

GADLEYS

Gadflies

- the common name of representatives of four families of higher dipterans (order Diptera, suborder Brachycera Cyclorrapha).
Adult Gadflies (Fig.) are large flies with an underdeveloped oral apparatus, are not capable of independent feeding and live off the reserves accumulated at previous stages of development (aphagi). Gadfly larvae, being true parasites, cannot develop outside a living organism. Getting into the tissues of humans and animals, they cause myiasis (see). Schematic representation of the structure of an adult gadfly, its eggs and larvae: 1 - female gadfly Hypoderma bovis;
2—an egg attached to a cow’s hair (a) and a mature larva (b) of the gadfly Hypoderma bovis; 3 — first stage larva of the gadfly Hypoderma bovis; 4—larva of the first stage of the gadfly Oestrus ovis; 5 - posterior end of the larvae with claw-shaped spines that serve for fastening (a - larva of Oestrus ovis; b - Rhinoestrus purpureus); 6 - a package of eggs (a), laid by a female fly Dermatobia cyaniventria (sometimes mistakenly referred to as a gadfly) on the abdomen of a blood-sucking fly - the zhigalka; at the bottom of the bag a larva (b) is visible emerging from the egg; 7 — larvae of Dermatobia cyaniventria. Representatives of 3 families are common in the USSR: subcutaneous Gadflies (family Hypodermatidae), gastric Gadflies (family Gasterophilidae) and nasopharyngeal Gadflies (family Oestridae).

Females of subcutaneous O. lay eggs on animal fur. The larva, emerging from the egg, penetrates the skin and migrates in the subcutaneous tissues towards the dorsal part of the animal. At the site of their final localization, swellings, nodules, and fistulas form under the skin of the back. Larvae that have completed their development (stage III) emerge through the fistulas and enter the soil, where they pupate. The most common is the bovine botfly (Hypoderma bovis); The northern subcutaneous moth (Oedemagena torandi) causes great damage to reindeer husbandry. Sometimes the larvae of the subcutaneous gadfly also parasitize humans. In the human body, only stage I larvae parasitize, which migrate to the upper back, forearms and head. Possible ocular myiases.

Gastric G. larvae develop in the stomach and other parts of the digestive system of animals. Females glue the eggs to the animal's fur. The larvae that emerge from the egg burrow into the skin, causing severe itching. The animal scratches the itchy areas with its teeth and swallows the larvae. The larvae are held in the stomach using special hooks. The larva, which has completed its development, comes out with excrement. A person becomes infected with O. larvae through close contact with animal fur. The larva penetrates the skin and migrates there. This causes severe itching. Parasitism in the human stomach is also possible.

Nasopharyngeal O. are viviparous; they spray larvae into the nostrils of animals, less often onto the mucous membrane of the mouth or eyes. The development of larvae occurs in the nasal, pharyngeal cavities or in the frontal sinuses, to the walls of which they are attached by hooks located at the anterior and posterior ends of the body. A person becomes infected with nasopharyngeal O. larvae most often on pasture. Ocular myiases can be external, when the larvae develop under the conjunctiva or in the lacrimal sac, and internal, when O. larvae enter the eyeball. The last case is the most dangerous, since destruction of the eyeball is possible, leading to blindness (see Eye).

The Russian gadfly, or white-headed fly (Rhiaestrus Oestridae Br.), is common in the central and southern parts of the USSR. This type of O. belongs to the nasopharyngeal O.

All types of Gadflies cause serious harm to livestock. When attacked by the Gadfly, animals experience severe anxiety, stop eating, cows climb into the water, and their fatness and milk yield decrease.

Signs of infestation with gadfly larva

A female gadfly can lay eggs anywhere: on a person’s body, head, arms or legs. Before the larvae make their way inside the body, their presence can only be detected by chance. But when the parasite begins to be active inside, a person’s health worsens. Symptoms such as:

weakness;
dizziness;
headache;
nausea;
temperature increase.

Fever

These are general signs. Otherwise, the symptoms depend on the location of the larvae:

with subcutaneous myiasis - blisters appear on the skin, over time a hole forms in the center through which the larva breathes, suppuration may occur, and when the parasite moves, itching, burning, and pain are felt;
with intestinal myiasis – abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea;
in case of eye damage – redness, pain, lacrimation, decreased visual acuity;
in the nosal form – copious mucus secretion, pain, frequent sneezing, swelling of the nose.

Without treatment, symptoms become increasingly worse.

Danger to humans and animals

The most dangerous species for humans are considered to be the cavitary and gastric botflies. After entering the host’s body, the larva begins intensive feeding. The victim loses vitality, there is a lack of vitamins in the body, and painful sensations arise. As a result of movement through organs, soft tissues, and meninges, health deteriorates. There are repeated cases of death from infection.

When the larva penetrates the body, a person develops a parasitic infection (myiasis). It progresses in several stages over time:

The laying of eggs by the female gadfly in the hairline (mainly the head).
When heat is transferred, the parasite emerges from the egg.
It then penetrates the skin or organs.
At this stage, a fistula is formed through which it exits the body.

There are groups of people who are more vulnerable to these flies than others. They should be more observant when interacting with cattle. These include:

elderly people;
diabetic patients;
people who do not maintain proper hygiene;
people with nervous disorders;
having a penchant for alcohol;
persons permanently located in tropical and subtropical zones.

Take note! Larvae of the family Hypodermatidae feed on blood and other useful substances for 5-9 months and are endoparasites that tend to provoke various kinds of diseases.

For people involved in farming, the flight period of the gadfly causes colossal damage. The amount of milk in cattle noticeably decreases, it begins to get nervous and lose weight due to insufficient nutrition. In addition, the skin of such livestock will drop significantly in price.

Treatment

Since adult individuals can harm a person in only one way - by laying eggs on his skin, the question is not what to do if bitten by a gadfly, but how to get rid of the larvae.

It is advisable to take action immediately, but in most cases this is not possible, since the process goes completely unnoticed by humans. Unpleasant sensations arise later, when the larvae penetrate the skin or begin to develop in the intestines.

Treatment includes 2 stages:

Removal of foreign organisms (larvae).
Therapy for tissue healing and organ restoration.

Only a specialist can remove the larva. Depending on where the parasite is located, it is either removed using tweezers under local anesthesia, or surgical intervention is performed. Sometimes the parasite is affected by using medications. After the larva is removed, antibiotics are prescribed to prevent the development of inflammatory processes.

Maliciousness

The vital activity of gastric gadflies does not lead to the death of the host animal, and therefore these insects are true parasites.

On a note! However, some subspecies and representatives of certain varieties are still capable of eating the ovaries of their carrier!

Horse gadflies cause certain difficulties for people who care for horses involved in equestrian sports. The parasite's egg clutches sometimes occupy quite large areas of the animal's body: the inner surface of the legs, the area of the tibia, the knees, the mucous membrane and surface of the nose, and sometimes the throat. In this case, the eggs should be removed immediately so that the larvae that hatch from them cannot harm the health of the animal.

In general, the harmfulness of the gastric gadfly is as follows:

Often, during the breeding season of these insects, horses develop quite large tumors, some reaching the size of a thumbnail. The tumor itself does not cause much discomfort, but at the same time the horse loses its ability to work - if the affected area is in the area where the bridle or saddle will be placed, then gradually the wound will begin to increase due to friction.
The larvae that live in the animal’s mouth contribute to the development of wounds on the mucous membrane, living in the digestive tract - stomach ulcers or blockage of the anus, which leads to colic.
Eggs located on the hairs of the animal's body are quite problematic to remove, since the tendons and bone are located very close to the skin, especially in the area of the tibia. And the eggs can only be removed with a sharp knife, blade or sandpaper, which greatly increases the risk of injury.

On a note! Plus, during the period of egg maturation there is a high risk of human infection!

A representative of parasitic flies, the gadfly belongs to the Diptera family. More than 150 varieties have been recorded and described, one of which can harm humans. What danger does the parasite pose to mammals, the insect’s lifestyle, how does it reproduce – we’ll talk about this in this publication.

Precautionary measures

The following preventive measures will help prevent attacks by gadflies and infestation with larvae:

install mosquito nets on windows and doors in the house or a mosquito net (if we are talking about outdoor recreation);
carefully monitor the cleanliness of premises where farm animals are kept and treat them from flies;
be attentive to your health, treat skin lesions in a timely manner;
Regularly mow the grass in your garden plot, as gadflies may be hiding in it;
on the site, the compost pit, street toilet, and outbuildings should be located as far as possible from the house.

Special deterrents will also help protect against bites - repellents, which should be used to treat clothing and exposed skin when going into nature or planning to spend time in a place where insects could potentially live.

The danger of gadflies

There is no doubt that the question of whether gadflies are dangerous must be answered in the affirmative. After all, during their development they feed on various tissues of the animal: abdominal, subcutaneous or gastric.

With their huge population, when one animal was introduced, the death of the latter occurred. Sheep, in particular, are often exposed to such danger, whose cavitary botflies cause great harm to livestock production.

Despite the fact that the female tries to divide her offspring among different owners, it happens that there can only be one cow or horse in a certain place. In this case, the entire portion of more than half a thousand eggs will go to one animal. Sometimes this can lead to the death of the latter.