Homalomyia

HOMALOMYIA (Fannia) canicularis L., the lesser house fly (family Anthomyidae, order Diptera). Length 5-6 mm. It frequently lives in houses, where it is sometimes numerous. It flies predominantly under the ceiling around hanging objects, e.g., lamps, which it contaminates with its excrement ("fly specks"). It lays eggs on human excrement or on the feces of dogs and domestic animals. Larvae emerge from the eggs, characterized by longitudinal \~~/

Human cases are not uncommon. Pseudoparasitism of the larvae of Homalomyia canicularis is accompanied by severe abdominal pain. The larvae are expelled with feces or vomit. Homalomyia canicularis is widely distributed in Europe. The diagnosis of this form of intestinal myiasis is made post factum upon the expulsion of the larvae with excrement. To cleanse the intestine of larvae, laxatives are administered. To prevent infection by the larvae, one should eat vegetables that have been thoroughly washed with boiled water and cleaned internally of gnawed passages in which the larvae of Homalomyia canicularis may be present. The adult Homalomyia canicularis can contaminate food products with pathogenic bacteria carried on its feet and proboscis, and spread various acute infectious intestinal diseases (see Flies). Its role in this regard is analogous to that of the house fly. Another species of the same genus is Homalomyia scalaris.

Translated fragment of garbled OCR text.