Horse Stomach Bot Fly vs Oriental Latrine Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Horse Stomach Bot Fly Oriental Latrine Fly
Scientific Name Gasterophilus intestinalis Chrysomya megacephala
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Oestridae Calliphoridae
Size 12-16 mm 8-12 mm
Habitat Farmland Woodlands
Diet Omnivores Detritivores
Regions Cosmopolitan wherever horses are kept Asia, Africa, South America, Oceania
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Horse Stomach Bot Fly

A bee-like fly that glues eggs to horse leg hairs where they are ingested during grooming. Larvae attach to the stomach lining and develop for months before passing out.

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Did You Know?

Larvae survive the acidic horse stomach by secreting a protective alkaline buffer around themselves.

Oriental Latrine Fly

A metallic blue-green blow fly originally from the Oriental region that has spread globally. It is both a forensic indicator species and a vector of enteric pathogens.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the most commonly collected fly species at crime scenes in tropical countries.