It may be difficult to identify flies by maggot type. Fly larvae contain spiracles, external respiratory openings on the body, each with a specific number of pores. To obtain a complete identification, these parts may be compared to images in a pictorial key.
Diagnosis: Finding fly larvae in human tissue or wounds.
Identifying features:Depending on your laboratory's procedure, a basic identification of "fly larvae" may be sufficient. Identification to the genus or species level involves comparing anterior and posterior spiracles, mouthparts, and other parts of the larvae. An atlas will be required. Travel history is also helpful.
26. CDC. Image# 21333. "Under a magnification of 50X, this photomicrograph revealed some of the ultrastructural features exhibited at the posterior end of a human botfly, Dermatobia hominis maggot, which included organism’s posterior spiracles and spines. This specimen was extracted from a patient’s skin." PHIL public domain. https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=21333 27. CDC. (2017). "Cross-sections of a bot fly larva (unidentified) taken from the right ear of a patient who traveled to Belize. This image shows a close-up of one of the spines." Public domain. 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/myiasis/index.html
