Lucilia Illustris - Current Research

Current Research

Recent research involving blow flies ranges from maggot therapy to identifying different species of bird blow flies. Maggot Debridement Therapy (MDT) uses specially selected fly larvae for the cleansing of non-healing wounds. Gangrenous wounds are examples of non-healing wounds that can clinically be treated more effectively by MDT than more common treatments. “Medicinal maggots have three actions: 1) they debride (clean) wounds by dissolving the dead (necrotic), infected tissue; 2) they disinfect the wound, by killing bacteria; and 3) they stimulate wound healing.” According to the Federal Drug Administration, medicinal maggots are the first live organisms to be marketed in the United States.

The effect of blowflies on birds is a current research issue. Species such as meadowlarks, sparrows and finches suffer from blowflies. The blowfly larvae infest the nests, sucking the blood of the nestlings injuring and possibly killing them. Current research on bird blow flies include the study of new species of blow flies, the effect on the hosts and the distribution of the blow flies toward each species.

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