Cheese fly
From Freepedia
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piophila casei:
Adult:
- Cheese fly
- Bacon fly
Larva:
- Cheese skipper
- Bacon skipper
- Ham skipper
- Cheese maggot
- Cheese hopper
Cheese flies are members of the family Piophilidae of flies (Diptera). The best-known member of the family is piophila casei. It is a small fly, about 40 mm (1/6 inch) long, found worldwide. The fly's larva infests cured meats, smoked fish, cheeses, and decaying animals. The larva is about 8 mm (1/3 inch) long and is sometimes called the cheese skipper for its leaping ability. When disturbed, this tiny maggot can hop up to 15 cm (6 inches) into the air.
In Sardinia, Italy the larvae are intentionally introduced into pecorino cheese to produce casu marzu.
If eaten (accidentally or otherwise), the larvae can pass through the digestive system alive (human stomach acids do not usually kill them) and live for some time in the intestines. This is referred to as an enteric myiasis. The larvae can cause serious intestinal lesions as they attempt to bore through the intestinal walls. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, and bloody diarrhea. Living and dead larvae may pass in the stool.
Forensic entomology uses the presence of piophila casei larvae to help estimate the date of death for human remains. They do not take up residence in a corpse until three to six months after death.[1]
References
- {{{Author|}}}{{|{{{3}}}}}}|show1| (1993)}}{{{{{Year|}}}}}}|show1|.}} {{|{{{3}}}}}}|show1|[{{{URL}}}}} Ninety-Nine More Maggots, Mites, and Munchers{{|{{{3}}}}}}|show1|]}}{{|{{{3}}}}}}|show1|, {{{Pages}}}}}{{|{{{3}}}}}}|Show1|, University of Illinois Press}}. {{{ID|}}}
- Lieutenant Brian F. Prendergast, USN (2001). Filth Flies: Significance, Surveillance and Control in Contingency Operations (.pdf format). Retrieved October 1, 2005.
