Worried little dude might have a bot fly

[ignatius]

Has anyone dealt with bot flies in a baby? I have a guy I found the middle of last week, and he is eating, pooping, and has lots of energy. Seems fine, but has this swollen mass under his arm with a hole in it. Can anyone confirm this is a bot fly, and give any advice on how to treat it? Picture link:

I'm in NE Georgia for reference

[ignatius]

Okay that link didn't work out apparently, here we go again:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sXAdgo9T1NywHPyY8

[HRT4SQRLS]

What is the black area to the left of the hole?
I'm not sure that's a bot. Was there an infection in that area? What about a cat bite?

[Spanky]

That is either an abscess (1st guess) or a bot, hard to tell for sure. Do you see the little bass turd poking out to breath?

You can place some Vaseline or A&D ointment over that hole and see if the bot inside comes out after a few minutes to clear the gel so it can breath.

I am in Toccoa (Lake Hartwell)... are you close to Toccoa or Lavonia?

[Javarat]

I'm in NE Georgia for reference

This confused me, as your Profile location is MS.

[ignatius]

The goopy looking bit to the left of the hole is either a scab or a well stuck on bit of discharge out of the hole... I didn't want to pull on it very much and have it open up again if it's a scab.

My friend just found him in her yard--we don't know if it was a cat or hawk or anything else. It really doesn't seem to bother him at all--he's super active (when it's feeding time anyway), and he doesn't complain when I push on it or poke at it.

The thing that most made me think it was a bot fly was the prominent hole... I'll try the vaseline thing and report back.

I'm in Watkinsville, GA

[ignatius]

Halfway good news!

It was a bot fly: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Lm7YrGmA1aaRt3KL9

Managed to squeeze that out when it came to the surface.

The reason it's only halfway: we noticed another one that we couldn't get out yet.

Another question: we have this little dude with a baby girl--is there any risk of the parasites moving from baby to baby?

[DanC]

WoW, I never knew bot fly are in USA. I'm from Michigan, I hope they wont make it up here. Probably to cold in winter for them up here. :O I'm happy you got it out though! Hopefully you get other one and there's not any more. Good luck to your little one!

[ignatius]

I actually had a buddy ask me if I had ever seen any on the squirrel we raised last year. Nope. Never until now.

As much as I hate it I think I might just need to leave the other one in for another day or two and let it develop. I don't think it is as big as the one we pulled out.

Also that goop on his arm was definitely discharge from the bot fly. Gross.

[JPlagg]

WoW, I never knew bot fly are in USA. I'm from Michigan, I hope they wont make it up here. Probably to cold in winter for them up here. :O I'm happy you got it out though! Hopefully you get other one and there's not any more. Good luck to your little one!

We have them here.....I've removed them from pets before.

[DanC]

We have them here.....I've removed them from pets before.

OMG, Thanks for info! I never knew it. I always use bug spray. Anyway, I hope you get the other larvae out soon! Poor guy .

[ignatius]

They don't use humans as hosts in North America as far as I know--I think in Africa they do.

Thanks--he's still doing well. We'll probably try to get the other one out tomorrow. I can't find any more so hopefully he'll be good after that!

[jessicarena456]

I have been concerned about this too.the baby I have has a lump under his arm. it was kinda swollen but now it looks better. it's a lump wi tbh a small hole in the middle. It looks like it could be a insect bite of some type.

[DanC]

They don't use humans as hosts in North America as far as I know--I think in Africa they do.

Thanks--he's still doing well. We'll probably try to get the other one out tomorrow. I can't find any more so hopefully he'll be good after that!

The bot fly itself will land on a mosquito and lay eggs. The mosquito will then land on an animal/human and the seconds of heat from this animal/human will hatch the eggs. The larvae will be on the skin and burrow inside to feed and start their life.

[DanC]

WARNING: kind of graphic sorry if I'm not allow to post this, just delete it.

[cava]

Thanks, I didn't know about the mosquitoes. The disease/parasite delivery bug of the century.

[Javarat]

Bot flies lay their eggs waaaay up in the top of trees. The larva hatch, and latch onto a passing squirrel. If they are lucky they find a break in the skin in get inside it.
The primary sensation to the squirrel is itching. They scratch all the fur off the area around the bot fly. The are only dangerous to the squirrel if a lot of them get on it.
After getting large enough.. they back out of the hole and drop to the ground. They live in the ground as a grub for several years.
Like cicada.. bot flies are cyclic. And there are years when large numbers of them emerge from the ground and lay eggs. This year is one of the cycles.. every Squirrel in Georgia seems to have at least one.
Adult bot flies look like a horse fly and a honey bee had a baby: