Cochliomyia is a genus in the family Calliphoridae, known as
blowflies, in the order
Diptera.
Cochliomyia is commonly referred to as the
New World screwworm fly. Four species are in this genus:
C. macellaria,
C. hominivorax,
C. aldrichi, and
C. minima.
C. hominivorax is known as the
primary screwworm because its larvae produce
myiasis and feed on living tissue. This feeding causes deep, pocket-like lesions in the skin, which can be very damaging to the animal host.
C. macellaria is known as the
secondary screwworm because its larvae produce myiasis, but feed only on
necrotic tissue. This species is
forensically important because it is often associated with
dead bodies and carcasses. Both
C. hominivorax and
C. macellaria thrive in warm, tropical areas.
