Fig. 405.—Larva of Homalomyia canicularis. Enlarged.
Homalomyia manicata, Meig., live as larvæ in decomposing vegetable matter or in cultivated vegetables (cabbage); they are easily recognizable by their plumed bristles, which are situated laterally on the body segments. They obtain access fairly often to the human intestine and give rise to very uncomfortable symptoms. Cases have been recorded from Germany, Austria, France, England, North America (Wacker, in Artzl. Intelligenzbl., 1883, xxx, p. 109; Florentin, in Compt. rend. Soc. de Biol., Paris, 1904, lvi, p. 525; and other authors).
The larvæ of an allied genus (Anthomyia), which, however, does not possess plumed bristles, has been found in the external auditory meatus of a man (A. pluvialis, according to Danthon).
[H. canicularis is common to Europe and North America, and is an abundant house-fly. It is the small house-fly so often seen on windows. Besides living on vegetable matter, they have also been found in the nests of the humble bee. Larvæ of this species (fig. 405) were sent to the British Museum, taken from the fæces of a woman suffering from cancer.[409] They were found at Shrewsbury. Hagen[410] reports the larvæ of this fly as occurring alive in the urethra of a patient.—F. V. T.]
Homalomyia scalaris, Fabr.
[This is not a synonym of the above, but a distinct species.
[H. manicata, Meigen, is also distinct.—F. V. T.]
Anthomyia desjardensii, Macq.