: any of various stout dipteran flies (family Oestridae) with larvae parasitic in cavities or tissues of various mammals including humans
Examples of botfly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The human botfly, Dermatobia hominis, is the only species of botfly whose larvae ordinarily parasitize humans, though flies in some other families episodically infect humans.
—
Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Several also showed signs of untreated medical conditions, and their coats were embedded with botfly eggs and hoof neglect.
—Chris Barilla, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
The video shows a type of botfly, Cuterebra ruficus, experts told USA TODAY.
—Dezimey Kum, USA TODAY, 28 July 2022
On the third day, when Robey opened the cooler, there was still ice inside—but also a writhing pile of botfly maggots all over the meat.
—Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 28 Sep. 2020
But there’s no vaccine for malaria, chikungunya, or the human botfly.
—Nell Zink, Harper's magazine, 28 Oct. 2019
This video is about the botfly's horrific larvae, which grow and feed in human flesh.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 25 May 2018
When one of these pests bites you, the botfly eggs make their way onto your skin and then underneath it.
—Outside Online, 14 July 2015
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Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Several also showed signs of untreated medical conditions, and their coats were embedded with botfly eggs and hoof neglect.
—Chris Barilla, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
The video shows a type of botfly, Cuterebra ruficus, experts told USA TODAY.
—Dezimey Kum, USA TODAY, 28 July 2022
On the third day, when Robey opened the cooler, there was still ice inside—but also a writhing pile of botfly maggots all over the meat.
—Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 28 Sep. 2020
But there’s no vaccine for malaria, chikungunya, or the human botfly.
—Nell Zink, Harper's magazine, 28 Oct. 2019
This video is about the botfly's horrific larvae, which grow and feed in human flesh.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 25 May 2018
When one of these pests bites you, the botfly eggs make their way onto your skin and then underneath it.
—Outside Online, 14 July 2015
Cite this Entry
“Botfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/botfly. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
botfly
noun
bot·fly
ˈbät-ˌflī 
: any of various stout two-winged flies whose larvae are parasitic in various mammals
Medical Definition
botfly
noun
bot·fly
ˈbät-ˌflī
plural botflies
: any of various stout dipteran flies of the family Oestridae that have larvae parasitic in cavities or tissues of various mammals including humans
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