Cochliomyia

Cochliomyia is a genus in the family Calliphoridae, known as blowflies, in the order Diptera. Cochliomyia is commonly referred to as the New World screwworm flies, as distinct from Old World screwworm flies. Four species are in this genus: C. macellaria, C. hominivorax, C. aldrichi, and C. minima. C. hominivorax is known as the primary 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.

== Characteristics == === Adult === thumb|C. macellaria adult In general, all Diptera have three body regions (head, thorax, and abdomen), three pairs of legs, one pair of forewings used for flight, one pair of halteres which are modified hindwings, and one pair of antennae.