Fox Maggot
Wohlfahrtia vigil
This record describes Wohlfahrtia vigil (species). Recorded family: Sarcophagidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
The western form is distinctive with its tan abdomen with three rows of dark spots. In the eastern form the dark spots are much larger and blend together, leaving four rows of pale spots. Larvae cause myiasis in young mammals, developing under skin. This is the only Sarcophagidae to cause primary myiasis in humans, but normally only in infants less than one year old.
Wikipedia reference for Wohlfahrtia vigil: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wohlfahrtia_vigil.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Superfamily
- Oestroidea
- Family
- Sarcophagidae (Flesh Flies)
- Subfamily
- Paramacronychiinae
- Genus
- Wohlfahrtia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Wohlfahrtia vigil. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Diptera includes over 150,000 described species of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on Earth (CDC). Malaria alone causes ~249 million cases and over 608,000 deaths annually, mostly children under 5 (WHO). Vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infectious diseases, causing 700,000+ deaths per year.
Ecological role of the group
Despite their disease impact, flies are critical decomposers and pollinators. Hoverflies alone pollinate hundreds of crop and wildflower species. Flies are also the primary food source for many birds, bats, and fish. Forensic entomology relies heavily on fly species for crime scene analysis.
Economic and practical significance of the group
In the U.S., vector-borne disease cases tripled between 2004-2016, with over 640,000 cases reported in that period (CDC). Tickborne diseases doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 annual reports. Globally, mosquito-borne diseases cost billions in healthcare and lost productivity.
Recorded sources for this group: WHO, CDC, PNAS. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Fox Maggot (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr