Rat-tailed larvae!?
Images were submitted from a slaughterhouse of two larvae found in the sink of the toilet. The inspector who sent the samples was curious to know what was that strange rat-tailed larvae and wether it could be a parasite.
CReSA entomologists confirmed that these rat-tailed maggots corresponded to dipteran larvae of a fly known as "Drone Fly" (Eristalis tenax).
This bee-like flies do not transmit any disease, but rather are beneficial pollinators. However, a few cases of intestinal miasis due to accidental ingestion of E.tenax larvae have been described in people.
The larvae live in water with little oxygen and abundant organic matter, and this kind of tail serves them for breathing.
Eristalis tenax larvae found in a slaughterhouse.
Adult Eristalis tenax drone fly. Image credit: Fir0002/Flagstaffotos
2 comment(s)
Acabo de encontrar una de estas cosas muertas y me llamó la atención la "cola", pensé que era un bicho bolita con cola, y una compañera de trabajo me dijo que encontró uno vivo que parecía una rata… entonces me puse a buscar y encontré este articulo que me ayudó mucho, ahora sé de qué especie se trata y coincide ya que trabajamos en un frigorífico de ovinos. Muy interesante el articulo, muchas gracias por la información.
Comment on our Facebook page by Alicia Varela Lalanda:
Quite common in pig farms. The adults look like bees