Cochliomyia

Cochliomyia is a genus in the family Calliphoridae, known as blowflies, in the order Diptera. Four species are in this genus: C. macellaria, C. hominivorax, C. aldrichi, and C. minima. C. hominivorax is known as the primary screwworm (or "New World screwworm") because its larvae produce myiasis and feed on living tissue. This feeding causes deep, pocket-like lesions in the skin, which can be very damaging to the animal host. C. macellaria is known as the secondary screwworm because its larvae produce myiasis, but feed only on necrotic tissue. Both C. hominivorax and C. macellaria thrive in warm, tropical areas. They are considered an agricultural pest of farm animals and the United States has partnered with Mexico and Central American countries to eradicate the fly via the sterile insect technique (releasing overwhelming numbers of sterilized males into infested areas). It has been suggested that some Cochliomyia may be a suitable target for an extinction gene drive.