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larvae
Photo#349244
Copyright © 2009 LsuTiger
SOS, require the ID for human parasitoids
Tigerland, Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, USA
November 4, 2009
Size: length: 1.3~1.5cm
what's this? Dipteran larva? parasitoids for humans and other animals?
Images of this individual:
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Contributed by
Xiaoyi Wu
on 5 November, 2009 - 5:31am
Last updated 27 February, 2010 - 2:25pm
Moved
Moved from
Moth Flies
.
…
John F. Carr
, 27 February, 2010 - 2:26pm
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Moved
Moved from
Moth Flies and Sand Flies
.
…
Charley Eiseman
, 6 November, 2009 - 10:48am
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Moved
Moved from
ID Request
. I don't know if we need all of these images but I'll let someone else decide.
…
John R. Maxwell
, 5 November, 2009 - 12:50pm
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Psychodidae
This is a moth fly larva - most likely a Psychodine. Psychodids are known to cause facultative urogenital and GI myiasis...how was this found?
…
Matt Bertone
, 5 November, 2009 - 7:59am
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Psychodinae?
According to the key in
The Insects of Connecticut
the distinguishing character of subfamily Psychodinae is "abdomen terminating in tubular siphon with pair of fan-like brushes at apex." (Also, position of spiracles can be used.)
I think that's what I'm seeing at the tail end.
The book I mentioned was intended to key subfamilies of the world, not only the Northeast, though it is rather old by now.
…
John F. Carr
, 5 November, 2009 - 7:19pm
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Exactly
That's exactly what that is....
…
Matt Bertone
, 6 November, 2009 - 10:42am
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At last!
Finally, a definitive image of a moth fly larva! Now I can refer people to this image node when they ask about "worms" in their bathrooms.
…
Eric R. Eaton
, 5 November, 2009 - 12:39pm
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You may get the correct answer
this worm was found when one friend brushed his teeth, totally four worms, but in three different morning, no one known how these larva entered into his stomoch and still alive, it's terrible!
If it's Psychodid, how to completely get rid of it from his stomoch? any suggestion?
BTW, what's GI Myiasis?
Thanks!
…
Xiaoyi Wu
, 5 November, 2009 - 9:41am
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Question
You say they were found in his stomach while he was brushing his teeth, I'm not sure how deep he brushes or if you were just being polite about how they were found, but my question is could they be living on the toothbrush. Say he keeps his brush head down in a grungy moist cup and then sometimes one rides the brush to his mouth? Or did you mean to imply that they were found in some other way?
…
John R. Maxwell
, 5 November, 2009 - 10:36am
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Not dangerous
I agree with John Maxwell’s hypothesis about how these insects traveled to the mouth. Even when they are swallowed, they are unlikely to cause any problems. (GI myasis is when someone swallows a fly egg or larva and it is not killed.) If getting a new toothbrush, and storing it in a clean location between brushing does not keep these maggots from appearing, then your friend should see a dentist. These maggots would not be the cause of a problem in the mouth, but they should not be able to survive in the mouth. They are probably just traveling to the mouth on the unclean toothbrush, and then spit out. But if they are actually growing in the mouth it means that there is another problem, such as gingivitis and/or periodontitis, that needs to be fixed.
…
John Carlson
, 5 November, 2009 - 11:24am
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Toothbrush
I was thinking the same thing. Check the toothbrush. Many years ago, I found a small earwig in my toothbrush when camping. There is moisture and security there in the bristles for a small critter.
Very nice images-BTW
…
Scott Justis
, 5 November, 2009 - 11:10am
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YES! it's moth fly larva, and
YES! it's moth fly larva, and I also found infomation online:
http://ipmnews.msu.edu/landscape/Landscape/tabid/92/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/137/Moth-fly-larvae-cause-a-stir-in-bathroom-toilet.aspx
Now I wonder how to kill these larvae if anyone swallowed them in unclean food and these larvae still living in the stomoch? can I suggest him use "Albendazol" or "ivermectin" to control them???
…
Xiaoyi Wu
, 7 November, 2009 - 8:16am
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Suggest
Getting a new toothbrush, cleaning and drying the area where the toothbrush is stored, cleaning the toilets and the drains (sinks/showers/bath tubs). And don't store the toothbrush head down in a moist cup.
…
John R. Maxwell
, 7 November, 2009 - 8:54am
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Stomach acid should do the rest.
Any swallowed larvae shouldn't be able to develop in the system, but if anyone is really worried about it they should go see a doctor. Self-medicating in a situation like this without seeing an actual M.D. is a really really bad idea. At least in my opinion.
…
Natalie Hernandez
, 7 November, 2009 - 7:34pm
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Really not dangerous
Some fly larvae can survive stomach acid, but there is no reason to use medications. If they do survive, they will simply pass through the intestinal tract causing no real harm. If they survive, you will see them in the feces until they are no longer being swallowed. To stop swallowing them, John Maxwell’s suggestions should be more than enough. As Natalie Hernandez suggests, they will not reproduce inside the human body, even when they do survive for a day or two.
If there are physical problems (rather than just being worried about it), see a physician. Before the appointment, ask them for an e-mail address and e-mail them a link to this webpage. Intestinal myiasis is not a problem that most physicians are familiar with, and there are a few different types. Physicians are welcome to contact me via e-mail with any questions regarding treatment considerations.
…
John Carlson
, 7 November, 2009 - 9:22pm
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Thanks for elaborating.
Good to know there's someone who's really qualified to evaluate this situation. I just really didn't think it was a good idea to take medications when they aren't necessary and/or may not be the prescribed treatment for instestinal myiasis if anyone were to have a problem with it and a doctor would be more qualified to recommend something. As you have :)
…
Natalie Hernandez
, 7 November, 2009 - 9:39pm
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Thanks so much!
I really appreciate your kind help and warmhearted support.
Thanks all!
…
Xiaoyi Wu
, 10 November, 2009 - 11:36am
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Looks like
a ceratopogonid larva - though what it's doing in a human stomach, I don't know. I can't think of any insects that are parasitoids in humans - parasites, yes, but a parasitoid invariably kills its host.
…
Arlo Pelegrin
, 5 November, 2009 - 7:02am
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