Life cycle

LIFECYCLE - HORSE BOT FLIES
  • Female fly hovers around the animal and oviposits on the distal half of the hair in the scalpular region and also around the fetlocks of the forelimb
  • The eggs are glued to the hair and hatch 5-10 days later only when the horse rubs and licks the area
  • The moisture and friction is essential for the hatching of the eggs 
  • The first stage larvae penetrate the mucosa of the tongue and wander for a period of 28 days 
  • They moult to the second stage and this stage passes down the pharynx, oesophagus and reach the cardiac end of the stomach where they attach themselves 
  • They remain for 5 weeks after which they moult to the   third stage mature larvae
  • The larvae remain in the non glandular portion of the stomach for a period of 10 months and the mature larvae is excreted in the faeces 
  • Pupation is on the ground and one month later the adult flies emerge
  • Total life cycle takes a year for completion
Last modified: Wednesday, 30 June 2010, 8:41 AM