Entomologist-Eye View of a Botfly
January 12, 2015 6:18 PM Subscribe
We all know what happens if you search "botfly" on YouTube. This, however, is a much more rounded and interesting video about the botfly life cycle from Piotr Naskrecki, an entomologist who, having been infected serendipitously, decided to allow the parasite to complete the stage he was hosting, in the interests of scientific filmmaking.
Probably Stating the Obvious Content Note: botfly larvae in human flesh and out of it, and close-ups of botfly larvae, pupae, and adults.
Previously on the Blue.
Probably Stating the Obvious Content Note: botfly larvae in human flesh and out of it, and close-ups of botfly larvae, pupae, and adults.
Previously on the Blue.
I used to be a field biologist and researched small mammals on an Iowa prairie in the 1990s. I was live-trapping voles, a rodent of about 30g, and midway through the summer the voles started showing these giant lesions on their body. They were so big that they were making up a significant percentage of the animal's mass, and sometimes there were several of them. I thought I was discovering some weird disease and was intrigued with what was occurring. I asked around to my fellow biologists and the consensus was no, these were bot flies. Looking back, I can say that in scientific terms this freaked the ever-loving shit out of me and OMG I'm still not over it.
posted by mcstayinskool at 6:29 PM on January 12, 2015 [10 favorites]
posted by mcstayinskool at 6:29 PM on January 12, 2015 [10 favorites]
Well, now I have the dubious comfort of knowing that way worse things could have happened to me than what actually did the last time I was in Belize.
Also, JESUS ACTUAL CHRIST!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 6:44 PM on January 12, 2015
Also, JESUS ACTUAL CHRIST!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 6:44 PM on January 12, 2015
mcstayinskool: "I used to be a field biologist and researched small mammals on an Iowa prairie in the 1990s. [...] I asked around to my fellow biologists and the consensus was no, these were bot flies. "
Uh... the original video said Belize was the location. Are you saying that we have these evil insects from hell in the USA? AND in places that experience hard freezes such as Iowa and my state of Illinois? Now I'm really freaking out. (Next you're going to tell me that I can contract Chagas disease in my area as well. So much for sleeping for the next few weeks.)
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 6:46 PM on January 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Uh... the original video said Belize was the location. Are you saying that we have these evil insects from hell in the USA? AND in places that experience hard freezes such as Iowa and my state of Illinois? Now I'm really freaking out. (Next you're going to tell me that I can contract Chagas disease in my area as well. So much for sleeping for the next few weeks.)
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 6:46 PM on January 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you have Trypophobia (phobia of clusters of holes) leave the thread now, do not click on any links, do not pass go, do not collect $200.
posted by kate blank at 6:57 PM on January 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by kate blank at 6:57 PM on January 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
My wife said, "that was pretty cool," and that illustrates why I married her (among other reasons).
A friend of mine got some of these when he visited his grandparents in Brazil. I helped extract them using his family's instructions: chew some tobacco and put it on the skin where the larva is (to sort of drug it so in doesn't hold on with those spines so tightly), then put butter on it so it has to stick its head out to breath, then grab it with tweezers and put slowly. His were big and must have been almost mature.
posted by recursion at 6:58 PM on January 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
A friend of mine got some of these when he visited his grandparents in Brazil. I helped extract them using his family's instructions: chew some tobacco and put it on the skin where the larva is (to sort of drug it so in doesn't hold on with those spines so tightly), then put butter on it so it has to stick its head out to breath, then grab it with tweezers and put slowly. His were big and must have been almost mature.
posted by recursion at 6:58 PM on January 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh, I gave birth to 3 botflies on my own birthday a few years ago. They emerged from my elbows and my left armpit. It was gross. But, on the bright side, I was such a good host for them that they all emerged large and wriggly and, I am sure, the two that I did not squish went on to live productive lives laying their babies in the bodies of other, more interesting, organisms.
posted by ChuraChura at 7:13 PM on January 12, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by ChuraChura at 7:13 PM on January 12, 2015 [6 favorites]
The adult was actually really pretty, but the larvae won't be winning any beauty contests.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:13 PM on January 12, 2015
posted by Dip Flash at 7:13 PM on January 12, 2015
Wonderful. I didn't know that the swelling caused by the growing larva is called a warble.
posted by bonobothegreat at 7:22 PM on January 12, 2015
posted by bonobothegreat at 7:22 PM on January 12, 2015
> Are you saying that we have these evil insects from hell in the USA?
We have the ones that infect rodents and the ones that infect deer and horses, but not the ones that infect humans. They're very discriminating, you see.
posted by contraption at 7:36 PM on January 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
We have the ones that infect rodents and the ones that infect deer and horses, but not the ones that infect humans. They're very discriminating, you see.
posted by contraption at 7:36 PM on January 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
So, he sucked one out with the pump thing and killed it instantly. The other he let live, only for it to find that when it emerged it was the only botfly within 2,600 miles and was doomed to a short, futile life of mate-less oblivion.
It's probably a good thing we don't know what horrible vengeance he wrecked upon the third poor creature.
posted by Curious Artificer at 7:46 PM on January 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's probably a good thing we don't know what horrible vengeance he wrecked upon the third poor creature.
posted by Curious Artificer at 7:46 PM on January 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
"Serendipitously."
I do not think that word means what you think it means.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 7:52 PM on January 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
I do not think that word means what you think it means.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 7:52 PM on January 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
What a gracious host.
posted by benzenedream at 7:52 PM on January 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by benzenedream at 7:52 PM on January 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
Nope. Nope. Nope. So much nope. Not clicking, not even thinking about this, sorry for wandering in....
posted by bashos_frog at 8:14 PM on January 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by bashos_frog at 8:14 PM on January 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
We all know what happens if you search "botfly" on YouTube.
I don't! And I'm not going to find out! Yay!
posted by kagredon at 8:17 PM on January 12, 2015 [11 favorites]
I don't! And I'm not going to find out! Yay!
posted by kagredon at 8:17 PM on January 12, 2015 [11 favorites]
So, he sucked one out with the pump thing and killed it instantly. The other he let live, only for it to find that when it emerged it was the only botfly within 2,600 miles and was doomed to a short, futile life of mate-less oblivion.
It's probably a good thing we don't know what horrible vengeance he wrecked upon the third poor creature.
He killed the first one, and something changed his nature so that he'd spare the second... I think the third one burrowed inward and took control. He's more botfly now than man.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:22 PM on January 12, 2015 [19 favorites]
It's probably a good thing we don't know what horrible vengeance he wrecked upon the third poor creature.
He killed the first one, and something changed his nature so that he'd spare the second... I think the third one burrowed inward and took control. He's more botfly now than man.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:22 PM on January 12, 2015 [19 favorites]
I should have been more careful about that introduction - I didn't find this by searching "botfly" on YouTube. I found it by following an entomologist on Twitter.
For those who are interested but not paralyzed by horror, Dr. Naskrecki tells the story of the video here. (Content warning: big close-up stills of everything I already warned you about plus I guess the trypophobia thing.)
posted by gingerest at 8:24 PM on January 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
For those who are interested but not paralyzed by horror, Dr. Naskrecki tells the story of the video here. (Content warning: big close-up stills of everything I already warned you about plus I guess the trypophobia thing.)
posted by gingerest at 8:24 PM on January 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
kate blank: "If you have Trypophobia (phobia of clusters of holes) ..."
On the bright side, I wouldn't say this is enough holes to really call a cluster.
He does make an interesting point how we're so often more horrified by something that just lives inside you for a little while than something that would kill you if it ate you.
posted by RobotHero at 6:52 AM on January 13, 2015
On the bright side, I wouldn't say this is enough holes to really call a cluster.
He does make an interesting point how we're so often more horrified by something that just lives inside you for a little while than something that would kill you if it ate you.
posted by RobotHero at 6:52 AM on January 13, 2015
Listening to autechre basscad ep while this is going... "don't have any idea what's going on..." (I'm nervous to watch, but here goes!)
posted by symbioid at 10:06 AM on January 13, 2015
posted by symbioid at 10:06 AM on January 13, 2015
"being a male - this was my only chance to produce another living, breathing being out of my flesh and blood"
*shudder*
posted by symbioid at 10:09 AM on January 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
*shudder*
posted by symbioid at 10:09 AM on January 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
What do we say to the botfly video? Not today.
posted by Foam Pants at 3:06 PM on January 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Foam Pants at 3:06 PM on January 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
The botfly video is actually really interesting and only somewhat gross; although YMMV on that last.
I found it by following an entomologist on Twitter.
As Alex notes: "This is why more biologists need to learn how to tell stories."
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 3:49 PM on January 13, 2015
I found it by following an entomologist on Twitter.
As Alex notes: "This is why more biologists need to learn how to tell stories."
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 3:49 PM on January 13, 2015
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More with Jerry Coyne on the blue.
posted by one weird trick at 6:27 PM on January 12, 2015